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· After the 1937 World’s Fair, Guernica toured Europe and North America to raise money for the Spanish war effort and to increase awareness about the threat of fascism.

· From the beginning of World War II until 1981, Guernica was on display in its temporary home at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, though it made numerous trips throughout the world: Munich, Cologne, Stockholm, and Sao Palo, Brazil, among others. 

· During the Vietnam War, hundreds of artists signed a petition urging Picasso to take Guernica out of MoMA in protest of U.S. actions.  Others claimed it was nothing more than political posturing.

· Guernica arrived at Museo del Prado in Spain on September 10, 1981, and is now the property of the Spanish people.  Picasso refused to allow it into Spain until “public liberties and democratic institutions” were restored, which occurred after Franco’s death in 1975.  The mural is now housed at its permanent home in the Museo de Arte Reina Sofía.  The New York Times story about Guernica’s transfer to Spain ran on September 11, 1981.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

· Although Picasso wanted the mural to be owned by the Spanish people, he refused release it to Spain until the country restored "public liberties and democratic institutions."  On September 10, 1981, Guernica arrived at Spain’s Museo del Prado. The New York Times story ran on September 11, 1981.