Freedom Tower (Miami) facts for kids
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Freedom Tower
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Freedom Tower in 2017
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 Location in Miami
Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Miami, Florida, U.S. |
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| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | George A. Fuller, Schultze & Weaver |
| Architectural style | Spanish Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000665 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 10, 1979 |
| Designated NHL | October 6, 2008 |
The Freedom Tower (Spanish: Torre de la Libertad) is a famous building in Miami, Florida. It was designed by Schultze and Weaver. Today, it is a modern art museum. It also serves as a main office for different art programs at Miami Dade College. You can find it at 600 Biscayne Boulevard. This is on Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus.
On September 10, 1979, the Freedom Tower was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical sites. Later, on October 6, 2008, it became a U.S. National Historic Landmark. This special title was given because of its role in helping Cubans. Many Cubans came to Florida after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. The tower helped them when they arrived. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter listed it as one of "Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places."
You can reach the Freedom Tower easily by public transport. The Miami Metrorail stops at the Government Center Station. It also stops at the Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre station. The Metromover also has a stop called Freedom Tower station on the Omni Loop.
A Look at the Tower's Past
The Freedom Tower was finished in 1925. It was first built as the main office and printing place for The Miami News newspaper. The building shows a style called Mediterranean Revival. Its design has parts that look like the Giralda tower in Seville, Spain. The tower is 255 feet (78 meters) tall. It has a special dome, called a cupola, at the top. This cupola once held a decorative light.
In the 1960s, the Federal government of the United States used the building. It helped process and record people who came from the Cuban Revolution. These people were called refugees. The tower also offered medical and dental care to them. After this main period of helping refugees ended, the government sold the building in 1974. In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The New World Mural 1513 is a large painting inside the tower. It was painted in 1988 by a group called The Miami Artisans. This mural is on the second floor in the Grand Hall. It is a new version of an older mural from 1926. The original was ordered by the tower's builder, James M. Cox. The mural includes a poem by Edwin Markham, a famous American poet.
In 1997, a Cuban-American businessman named Jorge Mas Canosa bought the building. His family paid US$4.1 million for it. The Mas family then made the tower look like it did when it was new. They turned it into a memorial for the refugees who came from Cuba. It became a museum, a library, and a place for meetings. The famous salsa singer Celia Cruz was honored here after she passed away in 2003. More than 200,000 people came to pay their respects.
In 2005, Pedro and David Martin, along with other partners, bought the tower. Later, the Freedom Tower was given as a gift to Miami Dade College. Dr. Eduardo Padron, the college president, led this effort. As part of the gift, the college agreed to create a place to share the Cuban exile experience. Today, it is a museum, a cultural center, and an education center.
The building has a rich history. It is now finding a new purpose. It is becoming well-known in Miami for its art shows. The MDC Museum of Art + Design is on the second floor. It offers many different exhibits. These exhibits are free and open to everyone. The Freedom Tower is also home to the Cuban American Museum.
On April 13, 2015, Florida Senator Marco Rubio chose the Freedom Tower for an important announcement. He announced his plan to run for president there. He said the tower was a symbol of freedom for Cuban-Americans.
On September 17, 2015, King Felipe VI of Spain visited the tower. He received a special award from Miami-Dade College.
On May 10, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a plan. He proposed $25 million to help fix up and improve the Freedom Tower. This plan will help keep the tower special for many years.
Gallery
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Miami Freedom Tower's cupola
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Upper tower section with cupola
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Westside – back side
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From the Port Bridge looking west, notice Miami Arena in background before demolition in April 2007
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From the Port Bridge looking west
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Closeup view of the front in 2010
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Front of building from Biscayne Blvd in 2016
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Miami Freedom Tower at Night with Rich Purple Lighting, April 2, 2011
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Maintenance on the Freedom Tower in 2010/2011, viewed from the west
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Preservation and maintenance work being done on the tower in March 2011
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The tower on a cloudy and rainy night
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The Freedom Tower in downtown Miami on November 26, 2016, the day after Fidel Castro had passed
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"Freedom Tower Miami New World Mural 1513". The mural's center image presents Juan Ponce de León and the Tequesta Chief Freedom Tower Miami Mural 1988, painted by Miami Artisans in 1988. Wade S. Foy, John Conroy, W Mark Coulthard, Ana Bikic.
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See also
In Spanish: Torre de la Libertad (Miami) para niños
