Bay of Pigs Museum


The Bay of Pigs Museum, also known as the Brigade 2506 Museum and Library, or the Juan J. Peruyero Museum and Manuel F. Artime Library, is a museum in memory of the Bay of Pigs Invasion's Brigade 2506 in Little Havana, Miami, Florida. It is expected to be relocated to Hialeah Gardens, Florida.

History

In September 1987, Arnhilda Gonzalez-Quevedo, the Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives for Coral Gables, presented the museum founders with $75,000 from the state of Florida for its construction. The museum was dedicated on April 17, 1988 at 1821 South West Ninth Street in Little Havana, Miami by 400 attendees, including veterans and Cuban exiles. It is officially known as the Juan J. Peruyero Museum and Manuel F. Artime Library, and thus named for two Bay of Pigs Invasion veterans.
In 2015, Frank de Varona, a veteran and author attempted to nominate the building for historic registration, only to withdraw the nomination due to opposition from other veterans.
The Bay of Pigs Museum was expected to be relocated to Hialeah Gardens, Florida in 2018. A B-26 located in Guatemala was also expected be brought over to the museum.

Collections

According to Time Out Miami, the museum has "a small but interesting collection of ephemera and memorabilia" about the Bay of Pigs Invasion, including the Brigade 2506 flag held by Democratic President John F. Kennedy in his 1962 address.

Political visits

The museum was visited by Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson in December 2007. In October 2016, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump visited the museum. The museum was also visited by Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis in September 2018.