The Villa Clara Provincial Museum (), also known as Abel SantamarÃÂa Provincial Museum (Museo Provincial Abel SantamarÃÂa), is a museum located in the Cuban city of Santa Clara, capital of Villa Clara Province.
Originally, in the 19th century, the structure was a Spanish barrack called "MarÃÂa Cristina". At the end of the Cuban War of Independence, in 1898, it was abandoned until 1903, when the barracks became the seat of the rural guard and the headquarters of Las Villas Province, led by General José de Jesús Monteagudo, who in 1902 replaced the Major General Alejandro RodrÃÂguez Velasco. It constituted, by its defensive capacity, the third military barracks of Cuba during the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. During the Battle of Santa Clara, in 1958, it was taken by the rebel troops led by Ernesto Guevara. In 1970 the structure was opened as provincial museum and, in 1981, renewed and expanded.
Part of the "Cultural Complex Abel SantamarÃÂa" (), it occupies its main building and is located over a hillock, in Dobarganes (Osvaldo Herrera) quarter. The museum counts a collection of art, social and natural history related to its province.
The museum halls include: