Freedom Tower

Completed in 1925, the Freedom Tower was originally the headquarters and printing facility for The Miami News, and for several years it stood as Miami’s tallest building. Designed by Schultze & Weaver in a Mediterranean Revival style evoking Seville’s Giralda tower, it remains a distinct part of the skyline.

From 1962 to 1974, the building functioned as the Cuban Refugee Center, processing and aiding hundreds of thousands of Cubans fleeing Castro’s regime. This period earned it the moniker “Ellis Island of the South.” Services provided included medical and dental screening, paperwork, aid distribution, and support for resettlement.

After years of decline, Cuban-American community leaders restored the tower in the late 1990s, and it was donated to Miami Dade College in 2005. It became a National Historic Landmark in 2008 for its historical and cultural role.

Today, the Freedom Tower is part of Miami Dade College’s Museum of Art and Design, featuring rotating exhibitions, cultural programming, and special displays highlighting the Cuban diaspora and broader immigrant narratives. It hosts events like the Miami Book Fair and other arts foundations.

Ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2025, the tower is undergoing an extensive two-year $25–50 million renovation, funded by state and private sources. The refurbished space will include new immersive exhibits such as “Libertad,” oral history archives, and art installations reflecting migration stories from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and beyond. A soft reopening is expected before the full relaunch in September.

Open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The entrance fee is $12