A Pre-Revolution Hotel Comes Back to Life in Havana

Havana's Capri hotel, which debuted just two years before Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution, is back to its mid-century luster after years of neglect. It's part of the Cuban government's new efforts to increase tourism.

Erected thanks to a 1955 law that gave developers tax incentives, government loans, and casino licenses to build large-scale hotel projects under then-president Fulgencio Batista, the Capri quickly became known as one the nicest mob and celebrity hang-outs in Havana. Henchmen of famous organized crime figure Meyer Lansky ran the hotel's casino and nightclub. Actor George Raft (mostly known for his movie portrayals of mobsters) was a greeter and part-owner of the casino while living in the Capri's 19th-floor penthouse at the time.