An outstanding monument in the heart of Downtown Miami
The Freedom Tower is a rare historic constant in a city continually remaking itself. Built in 1925 as the headquarters of The Miami News, it rose as an architectural symbol of the city’s early ambition.
From 1962 to 1974, the building served as the Cuban Refugee Center, assisting hundreds of thousands of Cubans seeking asylum in the United States. These refugees would go on to reshape Miami. After decades of disrepair, the Freedom Tower was rescued by Cuban American community leaders aiming to honor the Cuban legacy in Miami, who donated it to Miami Dade College (MDC) in 2005.
In 2008, the building was designated a National Historic Landmark. Since then, it has continued to serve as a hub for culture, education, and civic engagement—now stewarded by MDC’s Museum of Art and Design. The Freedom Tower stands as a tribute to the generations who built Miami and an inspiration for the city’s future. The story of the Freedom Tower is the story of Miami.
Restoring the Freedom Tower became a priority for Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega shortly after her appointment in 2020. Under her leadership, the MDC Board of Trustees successfully lobbied the Florida Governor’s Office for $25 million in financial support for the capital project. Prestigious awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Florida Department of State have also been granted.
Reopened in 2025 for its centennial celebration, the new Freedom Tower galleries inspire visitors through our shared history and our collective legacy of hope, courage, and the quest for opportunity and freedom.
Today, the Freedom Tower boasts newly reimagined museum galleries that explore its multifaceted history and enduring role in Miami’s story. From its inception as a home for The Miami Daily News to its current status as a global crossroads of culture, the Freedom Tower captures the past while helping shape the future. Visit the best museum in Miami to learn more. Experience the Freedom Tower today.