Cuban Exiles and Veterans Mark 65th Anniversary of Bay of Pigs Invasion with New Miami Museum

The Bay of Pigs Brigade 2506 Museum and Library reopens to educate new generations about the failed 1961 attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist regime.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:36pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A quiet, cinematic painting of an old Cuban-style building in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the new Bay of Pigs museum as a place to commemorate and reflect on the events of 1961.The new Bay of Pigs museum in Miami's Little Havana serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by Cuban exiles in their fight for freedom.Today in Miami

Sixty-five years after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, Cuban exiles and veterans of the ill-fated 1961 operation are commemorating the event with the grand reopening of the Bay of Pigs Brigade 2506 Museum and Library in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood. The museum aims to cement the legacy of the invasion and educate visitors about the harm caused by decades of communist dictatorship in Cuba.

Why it matters

The Bay of Pigs invasion was a pivotal moment that shaped the future of Cuba, the United States, and the broader Latin American region. The failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist regime led to Cuba's alliance with the Soviet Union and the start of a decades-long U.S. embargo. The new museum seeks to preserve the history and lessons of this event for future generations.

The details

In April 1961, around 1,500 Cuban exiles, backed by the CIA, attempted to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in an effort to overthrow Castro's fledgling communist government. More than 100 of the U.S.-backed fighters were killed, and another 1,200 were taken prisoner. Today, only about 200 of the original Brigade 2506 veterans remain, the youngest of whom are in their 80s. The new two-story, 11,000-square-foot museum was constructed with funding from Miami-Dade County, the state of Florida, and private donors.

  • The Bay of Pigs Invasion took place on April 17, 1961.
  • The new Bay of Pigs Brigade 2506 Museum and Library is reopening this month to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the invasion.

The players

Manuel Portuondo

A Cuban exile who was 18 years old when he enlisted in the Bay of Pigs invasion force, seeking to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist regime and return his country to freedom.

Rafael Montalvo

The president of the Brigade 2506 Veterans Association, which is hosting the grand reopening of the museum to educate visitors about the harm caused by decades of communist dictatorship in Cuba.

Carlos Leon

A member of Brigade 2506 who, despite never questioning or regretting his own participation in the Bay of Pigs Invasion, is unsure that a U.S. military intervention is the best way to liberate Cuba.

Ernesto Freyre

A Brigade 2506 veteran who considers joining the invasion force the most important action he has taken in his life, and is still hoping for a liberated Cuba, even if it doesn't happen in his lifetime.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As an 18-year-old with a lot of ideals and a big heart, I wanted to be back in my country and be free and be able to do what I wanted. I enrolled in the invasion and shipped to Guatemala for training.”

— Manuel Portuondo

“The Bay of Pigs is a historical moment that defined the future of Cuba, of the United States, of Miami, and of many Latin American countries, because the failure of that intervention made communism stay in Cuba forever and change the country completely.”

— Rafael Montalvo, President, Brigade 2506 Veterans Association

“How many Cubans are you going to kill? How many more enemies in Cuba are you going to create by killing all those Cubans? What kind of a country, what kind of morale do you have as a Cuban?”

— Carlos Leon, Member, Brigade 2506

“It was the biggest purpose and commitment that I took upon myself.”

— Ernesto Freyre, Brigade 2506 Veteran

What’s next

The new Bay of Pigs Brigade 2506 Museum and Library will officially open to the public after a ceremony for Brigade members and their families on Friday.

The takeaway

The reopening of the Bay of Pigs museum in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of the failed 1961 invasion and the ongoing struggle for freedom in Cuba. While the veterans remain hopeful for a liberated Cuba, there are differing views on the best path forward, underscoring the complex and divisive nature of this historical event.