Freedom Tower fundraising launched for centennial reopening

Miami Dade College (MDC) has officially launched the philanthropic campaign for its National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower.

In celebration of its centennial anniversary this year, MDC introduced the 33-member Freedom Tower Centennial Committee representing South Florida’s cultural arts community. Members include Miami music icons Gloria and Emilio Estefan, and Willy Chirino.

“The Freedom Tower means so much to this community as a symbol of hope, freedom and opportunity,” said Madeline Pumariega, MDC’s president.

“It tells the story of Miami, of those who came to this country seeking the American Dream and worked hard to create a brighter future.”

The Freedom Tower campaign seeks to raise funds within six months to ensure a world-class exhibit that preserves the history of the building, including its role welcoming over 500,000 Cuban refugees in the 1960s and ’70s, and educate visitors about the broader story of the search for freedom and opportunity among the diverse Miami communities, Ms. Pumariega added. The tower will also house the first-ever FIFA exhibition in the US, the Kislak Center and art galleries curated by MDC’s Museum of Art and Design.

In September, Miami Dade College was awarded a $500,000 cultural facilities grant from the state to support the restoration of the Freedom Tower.

The grant is funding the current construction and restoration costs, as well as the creation of a new visitor experience at the historic 289-foot Freedom Tower at 600 Biscayne Blvd.

With a $25 million investment from the state, the Freedom Tower is undergoing significant renovations and is projected to have a grand reopening this year. The capital project is addressing deferred maintenance, structural repairs and life safety upgrades. Designed by Schultze & Weaver and built in 1925 as the home of the city’s oldest newspaper, the Miami News, the tower became an emblem of the American dream for those seeking freedom and opportunity.

From 1962 to 1974, the building served as the Cuban Refugee Assistance Center, providing crucial aid for hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles fleeing political persecution. Following several decades of neglect, the building was rescued by Cuban American community leaders seeking to honor Miami’s Cuban legacy and donated to the college in 2005. The college then restored the Freedom Tower and obtained its National Historic Landmark designation in 2008.

Once the Freedom Tower reopens, its most famous exhibits will be there, such as the first floor Kislak Collection of rare historical books, manuscripts, maps and Pre-Columbian artifacts that provide insight into the civilizations that shaped the Americas. New exhibits are also to be unveiled then to provide a contemporary visitor experience that tells the story of the Freedom Tower and its significance for Miami, the college said.

The Cuban exile story and Cuban Legacy gallery will reopen as well, the college said. The Cuban Legacy gallery shows the Cuban exile influence on the culture in Miami and the Cuban Exile Story has lectures and displays on exile experiences.

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