Cuba is a historical laboratory of buildings, streets, and artifacts that have been mostly untouched since 1960, allowing visitors to transport themselves into a time and space that has not evolved into modern times. In this historical presentation, Mario Cartaya retraces and recalls six decades of friendly and cooperative Cuban-American relations and history.

Mario Cartaya was born in Cuba and immigrated to the U.S. as a political refugee in 1960. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in Architecture from the University of Florida in 1975, founded Cartaya and Associates Architects in 1979, and became an American architect of note. His award-winning designs were read into U.S. Congress in 2019 and a U.S. flag flew over the Capitol in 2022, honoring his retirement. He is currently enjoying his new career as an author and lecturer.

Funding for this Florida Talks program is provided in part by Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and in partnership with the Sebring Historical Society. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.