Building currently used as a contemporary art museum and office to different disciplines in the arts designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark for its role in hosting services for processing Cubans fleeing to Florida

How to Get There

Get on I-95 N from S Miami Ave. Follow I-95 N and Exit 2D to NE 2nd Ave. Take exit 2D from I-95 N. Continue on NE 2nd Ave. Drive to Biscayne Blvd

Overview

The Freedom Tower (Spanish: Torre de la Libertad) is a building in Miami currently used as a contemporary art museum and a central office to different disciplines in the arts associated with Miami Dade College. It is located on the Wolfson Campus of Miami Dade College. It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2008 for its role in hosting services for processing Cubans fleeing to Florida.

History

Originally completed in 1925 as the headquarters and printing facility for the newspaper The Miami News, the Freedom Tower is an example of a Mediterranean Revival styled structure with design elements borrowed from the Giralda in Seville, Spain. Its cupola on a 255-foot tower contained a decorative beacon. The Federal government of the United States used the facility in the 1960s to process and document refugees from the Cuban Revolution and to provide medical and dental services for them. After the major era of refugees ended, in 1972, the federal government sold the building to private buyers in 1974. In 1979, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The New World Mural 1513, painted in 1988 by The Miami Artisans is situated in the Grand Hall on the second floor; however, it sometimes has limited access for the public. In 1997, the building was purchased by the family of the prominent Cuban-American businessman Jorge Mas Canosa. The Mas family then restored the tower to its original state and converted it into a memorial to the refugees who fled to the United States from Cuba. It housed a museum, library, meeting hall, and the offices of the Cuban American National Foundation.

The Freedom Tower was eventually donated to Miami Dade College. As part of the donation agreement, the College was required to create a Cuban exile experience, and today it is used as a museum, cultural center, and an education center. The Miami Dade College Museum of Art + Design is on the second floor of the building and offers a wide range of exhibits, which are free and open to the public. Miami Dade College has hosted several major exhibitions, including showcases of the works of masters Dalí, Goya and Da Vinci. The Freedom Tower is also home to the Cuban American Museum.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Freedom Tower (Miami)" which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0