MIAMI — The iconic Freedom Tower in Downtown Miami is turning 100 next year and the building is undergoing some major work ahead of its milestone.
Downtown Miami has gone through many phases over the years and through all the transformation, one thing that has always remained is the Freedom Tower.
Before the monument hits a huge milestone in 2025, it’s getting a facelift inside and out.
“The Freedom Tower is so iconic to our entire community,” said Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega. “If you think about it when it was first built, it was built for news.”
The Freedom Tower first opened in 1925 as the home to the city’s newspaper.
For many who arrived from Cuba between 1962 and 1974, it was their first stop in the U.S., acting as Miami’s Ellis Island. Pumariega’s parents were among those processed through the Cuban assistance center.
“Think about how many people went through the Freedom Tower and what it stood and meant for them that day walking through those doors. It means hope and opportunity,” she said.