Miami’s Freedom Tower is so much more than a stunning fixture of our skyline, it’s a cultural hub that keeps evolving. Having recently undergone a meticulous restoration, the 100-year-old Spanish Mediterranean Revival masterpiece is brighter and more beautiful than ever, and the perfect place to spend a few hours and rediscover the city.
Originally constructed as Miami’s first skyscraper and newspaper headquarters, the National Historic Landmark famously served as ‘El Refugio’ for Cuban exiles in the 1960s and ’70s, providing vital resources to hundreds of thousands refugees. Today, operated by Miami Dade College’s Museum of Art and Design (MOAD), the space connects past and present through exhibitions broadcasting classic Miami moments, interactive news reels and broadsheet takeaways that honor its media roots. Get your tickets here!
Now open: Abstraction as Legacy
Whilst it’s a symbol of resilience, the Freedom Tower is also constantly evolving. On Wednesday, May 27, MOAD is debuting a captivating new exhibition, Abstraction as Legacy.
Taking over the second-floor Wolfson Gallery through October 18, as part of America 250, this striking abstract showcase explores how American artists have used paint, through hard edges and expressive forms, to reflect on the body, nature and emotion. The collection traces trends that arose in Havana and made it to the US through exile, featuring boundary-breaking abstract paintings by legendary artists like Carmen Herrera, Willem de Kooning and Zilia Sánchez.
Walk through a living archive of Miami: the permanent exhibitions
Three permanent exhibitions anchor the Freedom Tower experience:
- Libertad: This experience explores the emotional journeys of those who built new lives in Miami. It highlights the building’s poignant history through moving photographs and oral histories.
- Languages of Migration: Housed in the Kislak Center, this exhibit pairs rare ancient works and 17th-century maps with contemporary art to explore how identity evolves through migration.
- Unidad: The World’s Game: Created by the FIFA Museum, this highly interactive exhibition takes visitors on a global journey through soccer, linking the sport’s unique power to connect directly to Miami’s own vibrant cultural mosaic using historic memorabilia and multimedia.
Community at the Freedom Tower
The Freedom Tower frequently hosts family days and community events, so keep an eye on their socials to stay up to date and book your tickets here or right inside the lobby at 600 Biscayne Boulevard for something different to do in Miami!
