By Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
When visiting Miami, one landmark you cannot miss is the Freedom Tower, a prominent fixture of the city’s skyline since 1925. Serving as a beacon of hope for those fleeing the terror and persecution of communism in Cuba after the 1959 Cuban Revolution, the tower stands as a testament to the resilience and courage of countless refugees seeking freedom in the United States.
The Origins of the Freedom Tower
Originally built in 1925 by James Middleton Cox, a prominent businessman and former governor of Ohio, the Freedom Tower was designed to house the offices of The Miami News—later known as The Miami News and Metropolis. Cox, who was also a presidential candidate in 1920, commissioned the renowned architectural firm Schultze and Weaver to design the building in the Mediterranean Revival style. Drawing inspiration from the Giralda, the bell tower of Seville’s Cathedral, the Freedom Tower’s design reflects a fusion of Spanish and Mediterranean influences. Standing at 289 feet, it was once the tallest building in the South, visible from the sea and a landmark for ships navigating Biscayne Bay.
The Freedom Tower became the center of Miami’s media landscape, housing one of the city’s most influential newspapers, known for its investigative reporting on figures like gangster Al Capone, political corruption, and civil rights issues. Over the years, the paper won several Pulitzer Prizes, cementing its place in Miami’s history.
A Sanctuary for Cuban Refugees
After The Miami News moved to a new location, the Freedom Tower took on a new and crucial role in the wake of the Cuban Revolution. Between 1960 and the early 1980s, more than 600,000 Cuban refugees passed through the building, seeking asylum in the United States. These refugees were fleeing the brutal oppression that followed the rise of communism under Fidel Castro’s regime. After the revolution in 1959, Cuba quickly became a one-party, authoritarian state that severely restricted freedoms. Under Castro’s leadership, thousands of Cubans were imprisoned, tortured, and executed for opposing the communist government. Political dissidents, journalists, artists, and ordinary citizens who spoke out against the regime faced extreme repression.
In 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the Cuban Refugee Emergency Center in Miami, and in 1961, President John F. Kennedy expanded support for Cuban refugees through the Cuban Refugee Assistance (CRA) program. This program was designed to help the exiles escape the oppressive communist regime and rebuild their lives in the U.S.
The Freedom Tower became the heart of this initiative, offering medical, financial, educational, and employment services to the refugees as they navigated their new lives in America. Many of these refugees were highly educated professionals, artists, and intellectuals who were forced to leave their homes, their families, and their country due to the rise of communism and political persecution. For many, the Freedom Tower was the first place they sought refuge upon arriving in Miami.
The Cuban Refugee Program provided assistance that helped Cuban exiles not only survive but thrive in their new home. Over the years, the program helped more than 600,000 Cubans escape the hardship of living under a totalitarian regime.
The Tower’s Second Life as a Cultural Landmark
By 1974, after the initial wave of Cuban refugees had subsided, the federal government sold the building to private owners. For several years, the tower was left neglected, until local Cuban-American leaders decided to preserve it as a tribute to the community’s legacy. In 1997, the Mas Canosa family, led by Cuban-American businessman Jorge Mas Canosa, purchased and restored the tower, transforming it into a memorial dedicated to the Cuban exiles who had sought refuge in the U.S.
The restored building housed the Cuban American National Foundation and included a museum, library, meeting hall, and offices, all focused on honoring the Cuban-American experience. In 2004, the Mas family sold the building to businessman Pedro Martin, who donated it to Miami Dade College the following year. In exchange, the college agreed to create an educational program focused on the Cuban exile experience.
Today, the Freedom Tower is not only a symbol of hope for the Cuban exile community but also a cultural center. It is home to the Museum of Art and Design (MOAD), MDC Special Collections, the Cuban Legacy Gallery, and the Kislak Center, which showcases the history of Cuban exiles and other immigrant groups. Through these programs, the tower continues to honor the enduring legacy of those who fought for freedom and escaped the shackles of communism.
A Historic Landmark
In recognition of its significance, the Freedom Tower was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on September 10, 1979. On October 6, 2008, it was designated a National Historic Landmark due to its pivotal role in assisting Cuban refugees after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. In 2012, the building was also listed on the Florida chapter of the American Institute of Architects’ “Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places” list.
The Freedom Tower stands as a powerful reminder of the struggles of those who fled oppression in search of freedom, and of Miami’s role as a sanctuary for those seeking a better life. It is a monument not just to Cuban history, but to the universal human desire for liberty and hope—especially for those who suffered under the harsh rule of communism and found a new beginning in the United States.
Image: ©communications-unlimited.nl
Sources:
https://moadmdc.org/freedom-tower/history-of-the-freedom-tower
https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/cuban-refugee-program
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title22/chapter36&edition=prelim
https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/FL-01-086-0051
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Tower_(Miami)
Author: Beata Bruggeman-Sękowska graduated in American culture studies and journalism. She is an international journalist, TV correspondent, author, chief editor of the international journalism center, Central and Eastern Europe Centre, president of the European Institute on Communist Oppression, and a sworn translator. She was born in Warsaw, Poland, and also has Armenian ancestry and roots in Lviv, Ukraine. She has been living in Heerlen, the Netherlands, since 2005.
