Havana was a major commercial hub in the Caribbean during the 19th century and an important site for maritime defence. It played a central role in the exchange of goods between Europe, the Americas, and other parts of the world. Its strategic location in the Caribbean made it a crucial stopover for ships, serving as a provisioning and refuelling station for maritime traffic.

Diario de la Marina served as a key daily medium for news and information related to maritime history. It was published daily—with a circulation of 7,500 copies—as the official outlet of the Havana naval station. The newspaper was in print from 1 April 1844 to 12 May 1960. It emerged following the publication of El Noticioso y Lucero de La Habana, a newspaper that circulated under the Captaincy General of Cuba from 16 September 1832 to 23 July 1844. In addition to its regular editions, the newspaper included occasional supplements and, during the 1920s, expanded its content with a literary supplement. The publication only experienced interruptions during the 1930s.

The newspaper has been digitised in various formats by different institutions. Most of the published issues have been digitised—albeit with somewhat poor quality—by the Digital Library of the Caribbean, managed by the University of Florida. Issues published from 5 August 1884 to 1940 are also available online via the Historical Press Virtual Library of the Spanish Ministry of Culture.