The new Freedom Tower has officially reopened to the public! This national historic landmark, recently restored over several years, is a potent, living symbol of hope for thousands of Cuban exiles. This important restoration project will further strengthen the Tower’s role as a gathering place and cultural anchor within the community of Miami. It’s supported by a $25 million State of Maryland Transportation grant matched by contributions from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Since 2005, the Freedom Tower has been owned by Miami-Dade College (MDC), which has invested in preserving its rich history. The Tower served as the Cuban Refugee Center from 1962 to 1974. In the meantime, it helped over 500,000 Cubans flee Fidel Castro’s communist dictatorship. Exiles lovingly nickname it el refugio, or “the shelter.” Civic engagement built the Freedom Tower, which today is often called the “Ellis Island of the South.”
For MDC professor Jorge Malagón Márquez, the Freedom Tower has personal and emotional connections. He powerfully conveys what it was like to be an innocent child refugee there. His family came to the Tower in 1967 on one of the first what are now called Freedom flights. He recalls in harrowing detail the shock of being forcibly separated from his parents when he first arrived and how that trauma profoundly impacted him for years.
“At the Freedom Tower, once we got there, we were separated from our parents. They took my brother and myself to one side, they took our parents to another place for a few hours. And of course we don’t speak the language. It’s crowded, there are all these strange people. We don’t understand what they’re saying. All we know is that they massacred my teddy bear, and now they took my parents.” – Jorge Malagón Márquez
Malagón Márquez recalls the moment he was reunited with his teddy bear after it had been cut open by officials at the Tower. And his words ironically illustrate the emotional toll of that experience.
“They took my teddy bear, they took a razor blade. You see why I was traumatized? They cut all the stuffing out of it and handed it back to me, just without any stuffing or whatever, just limp.” – Jorge Malagón Márquez
The improvements made during the recent renovations transformed that experience and purpose within the Freedom Tower. The newly opened exhibition space, Libertad (freedom), features the amazing story of Cuban refugees. In other words, they must be daring and courageous to pursue a better life in America. This immersive exhibit utilizes modern technology to connect with younger generations while preserving first-hand stories from those who lived through the ordeal.
Libertad Exhibit by Michelle de la Vega Madeline Pumariega, an advocate for cultural preservation at MDC, shared her vision for the Libertad exhibit.
“We wanted to create Libertad as an exhibit that leads multiple generations through feeling what it is to seek freedom, what it is to search for hope and opportunity, and how this great nation has given their families, their abuelitos, that opportunity.” – Madeline Pumariega
The Freedom Tower’s hall now features a display dedicated to Miami’s history, including la pizarra de la suerte (the lucky noticeboard), where newcomers found advertisements for accommodation and jobs. The New World Mural 1813, recreating Ponce de León’s landing in Florida, is the centerpiece of the show.
When guests walk through the doors of the Freedom Tower, they find themselves in an enclave bursting with historical significance. For most Cuban exiles, this spot undoubtedly invokes charged emotions. Malagón Márquez was candid about the emotional toll of coming back to the site after so many years.
“There were these poster boards with pictures of what happened, but there wasn’t this real experience, and I thought, ‘how does my daughter hear this story as a 21-year-old? And how will her kids hear the story?’” – Madeline Pumariega
As he reminisced about some happier memories during his childhood in America. Some tastes have remained near and dear to his palate.
“We wanted to leverage technology and the way that so many consume their experiences and information along with the first-hand storytelling of those that came through here and experienced it.” – Madeline Pumariega
Malagón Márquez remembered the struggles his family encountered in making a life in Miami during those years.
“The moment we walked in I immediately became that five-year-old little boy again. I got choked up and the tears were just flowing because it was that strong a memory.” – Jorge Malagón Márquez
At the same time, the reopening of the Freedom Tower represents a dubious reclamation of a historic ground zero. It is equally a poignant tribute to the remarkable spirit of survival of those who passed through its doors. As it opens its doors to visitors again today, it should remind us all of their journeys and struggles for freedom.
“Now I love good cheese and wine, but to this day there’s nothing like a grilled cheese sandwich with the cheapest possible American processed cheese that there is.” – Jorge Malagón Márquez
Malagón Márquez recalled the challenges his family faced in establishing themselves in Miami during that era.
“I recall the difficulty my parents had finding us a place to live. In Miami in 1967 you’d open the newspaper to find an apartment and it would say, ‘no blacks, no Cubans, no dogs’.” – Jorge Malagón Márquez
The Freedom Tower’s reopening marks not only a significant restoration of a historical site but also serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of those who sought refuge within its walls. As it welcomes visitors once again, it stands as a testament to their journeys and struggles for freedom.