Freedom Tower To Reopen After More Than $30 Million In Renovations

For the last century, the Freedom Tower has stood in the heart of downtown Miami as a symbol of the city’s origins and the enduring spirit of its community.

Originally built in 1925 as the headquarters for The Miami News, a now defunct local newspaper, the 289-foot structure—the tallest in the south at that time—later served as a gateway to freedom for thousands of Cuban exiles. 

The national historic landmark, which was designed to mirror a Spanish Cathedral, has been closed for two years as it undergoes a more than $30 million facelift that includes fixing flooding issues in the basement, repairing columns and improving accessibility for people with disabilities.

Now, the historic tower is set to reopen in September—a specific date has not been given— two months after its centennial anniversary, which was officially on July 25. 

“The tower is embedded in history,” said Paul George, resident historian at HistoryMiami Museum. “It was important that it be restored and recognized for what it has represented for 100 years.”

Funding for the renovations included a $25 million pledge by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in November 2021, separate $500,000 grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the State of Florida’s Cultural Facilities Program in 2023, and a $5 million donation from the Knight Foundation in June.  

“We worked with crews to expand accessibility, modernize elevators and bring the building to today’s standards,” said Maria Carla Chicuén, executive director of cultural affairs at Miami Dade College. “[We also restored] some of the original features such as the tiles and lighting.” 

The building traces its roots to 1925 when it served as a news tower for The Miami News, which was owned by former Ohio governor and businessman James Cox. It relocated in 1957.

Five years later the building became a base for the Cuban Refugee Assistance Program that helped Cuban immigrants leaving their homeland after the communist revolution.

From 1962 to 1974, the refuge—as it was commonly known among Cuban exiles—processed more than 650,000 Cubans, providing them with food, medical attention and shelter. 

That era earned the building its name: the Freedom Tower. It became a guiding light for future generations of the Magic City. 

Among those is Magda Castineyra, the dean of the Honors College, who came through the tower in 1967 when she was five years old. 

“I arrived in this country with my parents through the freedom flights… we had lost everything,” Castineyra said. “The Freedom Tower was the first place all the newly arrived would go…they helped my father find work and gave us a home. The tower became a light for my family.”

In 1974, the number of Cuban exiles arriving in Miami had diminished, and the tower was sold by the federal government to private owners. For decades, it had various owners and was nearly demolished. 

That was until 1997, when it was purchased by Jorge Mas Canosa, founder of the Cuban American National Foundation. He passed away two months later, and his family sold the tower in 2004 to real estate developer Pedro Martin.

A year later, the edifice was donated to MDC. For the past few years, the College has been busy revamping the tower.

Under MDC’s ownership, the Freedom Tower has become an epicenter of culture in South Florida. It houses the Museum of Art and Design where local artists showcase their work.

Multiple historical exhibits such as “Refuge and Reflection” will celebrate Miami’s heritage by providing insight into the immigrant experience with more than 350 testimonials from locals whose lives have been impacted by the tower. 

An old typesetting room of The Miami News was chosen to honor the Knight Foundation’s support in the form of renaming it The Knight Skylight Gallery. The gallery will feature presentations that showcase the sound and vibrance of Miami.

In the future, the College is planning a milestone celebration honoring Cuban singer Celia Cruz and a FIFA exhibition showcasing Miami as one of the hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“The Freedom Tower has always represented the same ethos that MDC has always carried, which has been a gateway to opportunity and a welcoming space where everyone can find inspiration,” Chicuén said.

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