The exhibition, the first of its kind to pay homage to a higher education in South Florida, is part of a series of events celebrating the investiture of MDC President Madeline Pumariega, the College’s fifth and first female president.
Miami, Nov. 1, 2021 – A new exhibition about Miami Dade College (MDC), “An Institution for All: The Unparalleled Story of Miami Dade College, 1960-2021,” will open its doors at HistoryMiami Museum as part of a series of events surrounding the investiture of MDC President Madeline Pumariega. The exhibition chronicles the College’s history of more than 60 years and will kick-off with an invitation-only opening reception on Wednesday, Nov. 10, from 6-8 p.m. The working media is welcome.
Curated by MDC Professor Emeritus and renowned Miami Historian Dr. Paul George and MDC’s Wolfson Archives Director Dr. Rene Ramos, the exhibit will feature nearly 190 photographs, video files and artifacts. A private media tour with Dr. George will take place on Friday, Nov. 12, between 10 a.m. and noon.
As the most comprehensive historic exhibition ever assembled about an institution of higher education in South Florida, MDC hopes to eventually transform it into a permanent display housed at the College to honor its impactful and transformational history.
The exhibition will have six main components:
- Old vs. New: A review of mascots, logos, and other MDC-related insignias.
- Campuses Growth: See the College’s extraordinary evolution from just 1,428 students who initially walked through the doors of what was then known as Dade County Junior College on Sep. 6, 1960, to the eight campuses and outreach centers today with more than 120,000 students from every corner of Miami-Dade County.
- Arts, Culture and Events: MDC is widely known as a cultural hub producing some of South Florida’s best and most celebrated events, such as the Miami Book Fair and the Miami Film Festival, as well as several programs and art spaces showcasing international artists. But what came before these events and exhibits? How was MDC engaging the community and promoting culture before these were in place?
- Periodicals: A review of MDC’s past publications, including its award-winning student newspapers, starting with The Falcon Times, which was launched at the North Campus, to numerous magazines and online publications produced by the College. This section will also include invaluable pieces of MDC’s memorabilia, including the first commencement program.
- Milestones: This portion of the exhibit will be dedicated to MDC’s success in the world of sports and students and faculty who have gone on to become famous.
- College Presidents: A tribute to MDC’s presidents starting with Kenneth R. Williams (1960); Dr. Peter Masiko (1962); Dr. Robert H. McCabe (1980); Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón (1995) and Madeline Pumariega (2021), the first woman to lead the College.
About HistoryMiami Museum
HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate located in downtown Miami, safeguards and shares Miami stories to foster learning, inspire a sense of place, and cultivate an engaged community. Through exhibitions, artistic endeavors, city tours, education, research, collections and publications, HistoryMiami Museum works to help everyone understand the importance of the past in shaping Miami’s future. HistoryMiami Museum connects people by telling the stories of Miami’s communities, individuals, places and events. For more information, please visit: https://www.historymiami.org/museum/.
“An Institution for All: The Unparalleled Story of Miami Dade College, 1960-2021” will remain on display at HistoryMiami through Sunday, Dec. 5.
WHAT: “An Institution for All: The Unparalleled Story of Miami Dade College, 1960-2021”
WHEN: Nov. 10 – Dec. 5, 2021, Wednesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday: noon – 4 p.m.
Opening reception: Wednesday, Nov. 10, 6 – 8 p.m.
WHERE: HistoryMiami Museum, Mural Gallery, 101 West Flagler Street
To RSVP for media tour, please contact Norma Ardila, 305-237-3607, nardila@mdc.edu.
For more information about the exhibition, please contact Dr. Paul George at miamihistorian@gmail.com, or Rene Ramos at rramos@mdc.edu or 305-237-7713.