Revitalized National Historic Landmark to celebrate centennial with community-focused programming and restored architectural glory.
Miami, FL – (June 3, 2025) – National Historic Landmark the Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College (MDC) will reopen to the public this September, launching a centennial celebration that honors a century of resilience and cultural significance. Following a two-year restoration, the Freedom Tower will begin its next chapter as a fully revitalized space for learning, creativity and community engagement.
“The Freedom Tower is more than a historic building — it’s a living symbol of Miami’s spirit,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “As we celebrate its centennial, we honor its past and embrace its future as a center for education, culture and civic life. Miami Dade College is proud to preserve and elevate this landmark for the community it has served and to welcome visitors from around the world.”
Celebrating a Legacy
The Freedom Tower’s centennial celebration will feature a series of exciting and meaningful events that bring Miami’s communities together through performances, storytelling and moments of reflection. These festivities will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, family days, a community celebration, and more.
As part of the grand reopening, MDC will introduce new exhibitions, which reinforce its commitment to education and cultural enrichment. Each exhibition is thoughtfully curated to reflect the building’s layered legacy as a center of information, a place of refuge, and a living archive of Miami’s diverse communities.
Exhibition Highlights
- Libertad – A new permanent exhibition spanning two floors, Libertad captures the spirit of Miami through immersive media, personal stories and historic artifacts. It explores the Freedom Tower’s role as a beacon of hope and resilience for generations of immigrants. Through multiple galleries, El Refugio in Context traces powerful stories of those who passed through the building and helped shape Miami’s identity.
- Languages of Migration – Housed in the Kislak Center, this permanent exhibition invites visitors to explore global migration through rare maps, interactive storytelling, and a space to reflect on their own journeys.
- We Carry Our Homes With Us – Featuring contemporary works by artists like Ana Mendieta, Félix González-Torres and Tomm El-Saieh, this exhibition explores memory and the emotional weight of migration.
- Unidad: The World’s Game –Developed and curated by the FIFA Museum, this interactive exhibition celebrates soccer as a unifying global force and its rich heritage. In partnership with MDC, it honors the cultural diversity and shared dreams of Miami’s communities.
Throughout the space, nods to its origins as the home of the city’s newspaper are woven into the visitor experience, from interactive newspaper reels and broadsheet takeaways to oral histories and photographs that echo the voices of those who once walked its halls. As visitors progress through the exhibitions, they will be invited to explore themes of identity and belonging. Whether through audio recordings, interactive displays or rare artifacts, each space will offer a personal connection to the past while inviting reflection on how those histories shape our present. From monumental screens displaying quintessential Miami moments to the first-ever permanent Pedro Pan exhibit, the Freedom Tower becomes not just a cultural space, but a mirror—honoring the questions, stories, and dreams that continue to define the Miami community.
The detailed restoration project included extensive structural repairs, interior refurbishments and a full exterior restoration, which preserved and ensured the integrity and iconic Mediterranean architecture of the building. Once reopened, the Freedom Tower will continue to operate under Miami Dade College’s Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) and serve as a platform for art and cultural programming.
100 Years of History
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2008, the Freedom Tower has long stood as one of Miami’s most iconic symbols of hope and opportunity. Originally constructed in 1925 as the headquarters of The Miami News, the city’s oldest newspaper, the Freedom Tower was Miami’s first skyscraper. Its impressive height, striking architecture and grandeur solidified its place as a defining feature of the city’s skyline and a symbol of Miami’s growth in the early 20th century.
Decades later, the building took on new role as a critical support center for Cuban exiles fleeing dictatorship in the 1960s and 1970s. Nicknamed “El Refugio,” the Freedom Tower provided medical care, food items and job and education resources to approximately 400,000 refugees starting new lives in the United States.
The building was later rescued from years of neglect by Cuban-American community leaders. In 1997, Jorge Mas Canosa, founder of the Cuban American National Foundation, purchased the building and initiated restoration efforts. After his passing, his family continued these efforts until 2001. In 2004, the Mas family sold the building to Pedro Martin, a prominent Cuban-American developer, who donated it to Miami Dade College in 2005, which has since served as its steward.
The Freedom Tower is located at 600 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami. Once reopened, tickets will be available for purchase online and in-person inside the lobby. For more information, please visit https://www.mdc.edu/freedomtower/.
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About the Freedom Tower
Built in 1925, the Freedom Tower is a designated National Historic Landmark and one of Miami’s most iconic buildings. Originally serving as the headquarters for The Miami News daily newspaper, it later became a processing center for approximately 400,000 Cuban exiles seeking safety and opportunity during the 1960s and 1970s. Today, the iconic Freedom Tower is stewarded by Miami Dade College (MDC) and operated by the MDC Museum of Art and Design (MOAD). After undergoing a significant restoration, the Freedom Tower will reopen this summer for its centennial celebration, inspiring visitors through its shared history and our collective legacy of hope, courage, opportunity, and the quest for freedom. Visit https://mdc.edu/freedomtower/ for more information.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College (MDC) is the most diverse institution in the nation, with 167 nations and 63 languages represented in its student body. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer over 300 distinct degree pathways, including associate and baccalaureate degrees, certifications and apprenticeships. MDC is the recipient of many top national awards, including the prestigious Aspen Prize, and has been ranked #4 among Top Public Institutions in the Southern Region by U.S. News & World Report. The College changes lives through accessible, high-quality teaching and learning experiences. It is home to the Miami Culinary Institute, the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex, the Miami Fashion Institute, The Idea Center, the Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, two AI Centers, the Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation at the Medical Campus, the Business Innovation & Technology Center, the School for Advanced Studies and New World School of the Arts, among others. MDC has been recognized among the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” since the program’s inception. The College serves as an economic, cultural and civic leader for the advancement of our diverse global community. MDC alumni and employees contribute more than $5 billion annually to the local economy, and graduates occupy top leadership positions in every major industry. MDC’s renowned rich cultural programming includes the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, Koubek Center Mansion and Gardens, Live Arts Miami at MDC, the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, and the Museum of Art and Design. MDC has admitted more than 2.5 million students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. Approximately 125,000 students are currently enrolled. For more information, visit www.mdc.edu.
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