Freedom Tower

The Freedom Tower, built in 1925, is a National Historic Landmark in Miami’s downtown, now serving as a museum and cultural center.

Planning your visit

The Freedom Tower carries more meaning for Miami than its architecture alone would suggest. Built in 1925 as the headquarters of the Miami News, modelled on the Giralda tower in Seville, it was repurposed in 1962 as the Cuban Assistance Center — the federal facility where hundreds of thousands of Cubans fleeing the revolution were processed, given medical examinations, documents and assistance. For that generation and their descendants it is the equivalent of Ellis Island, and it is designated a National Historic Landmark on those grounds.

Now operated as a museum and cultural centre by Miami Dade College, it holds exhibitions on the Cuban exile experience and Cuban-American history alongside contemporary art programming. Understanding it materially improves any visit to Miami, where the Cuban exile community shaped the city's politics, food, music and Spanish-language character from the 1960s onward.

The building has undergone extended restoration, so checking current opening status before travelling is worth doing.

It stands on Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami, near the Bayside area and the arena. Allow around an hour. The main booking is an entry ticket. Current availability is shown below.