Freedom Tower Miami

Miami Dade College recently created immersive multimedia exhibitions that bring the Freedom Tower’s history to life, from its early days as the Miami Daily News headquarters to its powerful legacy as the Cuban Refugee Center, where hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles were welcomed to the United States.

Visiting the Freedom Tower

The Freedom Tower is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and is closed for holidays and special events. Timed tickets are required and should be purchased in advance to ensure entry.

Group rates and educational tours are available for groups of up to 60 guests. 

Visitors to the Freedom Tower may park for free at MDC's parking garage at 500 NE Second Avenue. Please note the garage is closed on Sundays at which time visitors may park in MDC's Parking Lot 1, located on the south side of the Freedom Tower. 

Special Upcoming Event Highlights

On view May 27 through October 18, 2026: Abstraction as Legacy

Visual art both documents and reinterprets defining moments in American history, offering perspectives that go beyond the historical record alone. From portraits of influential figures to paintings that reflect the resilience and determination of the American people, artists have long used paint as a powerful tool for storytelling and expression.

Painting itself can also shape cultural history. Through bold compositions, expressive forms, and evolving abstract techniques, American artists challenged traditional ideas of representation while exploring themes of the human body, landscape, architecture, emotion, and movement.

Rather than presenting a comprehensive survey, this exhibition celebrates the wide-ranging history of abstract painting in the United States. In the decades following the 1950s, the U.S. emerged as an international center for artistic experimentation and innovation. Influences traveled across borders — from artistic movements rooted in Havana and carried to the United States through exile, to groundbreaking developments in New York and Los Angeles — creating a legacy of abstraction that continues to evolve in dynamic and unexpected ways. Featured artists include Young-Il Ahn, Sam Gilliam, Carmen Herrera, Hans Hofmann, Virginia Jaramillo, Lloyd Kiva New, Willem de Kooning, George Morrison, Noemí Ruiz, Zilia Sánchez, and Vaughn Spann.

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, this milestone invites reflection on the nation’s history, its people, and the future still being shaped. The story of abstraction in American art offers a compelling lens through which to celebrate the creativity, experimentation, and innovation that continue to define the American experience.

Permanent exhibitions at the tower

Libertad
Spanning the first and second floors, this sweeping permanent exhibition immerses visitors in Miami’s story as a city shaped by resilience and opportunity. Through digital installations, community testimonials, and historic artifacts, Libertad highlights the journeys of those who found refuge and built new lives in the Magic City. A centerpiece, El Refugio in Context, offers an intimate look at the Freedom Tower’s role as a Cuban Refugee Center in the 1960s and ’70s through first-person narratives and archival footage. The reimagined Knight Skylight Gallery has also been transformed into a luminous space featuring rotating art exhibitions, sound and light installations, and interactive storytelling.

Languages of Migration
Located in the Kislak Center, this permanent exhibition explores how communication, migration, and identity evolve across time and place. Drawing from the Kislak Collection, donated by the Kislak Family Foundation, Languages of Migration pairs rare pre-Columbian and colonial-era works with contemporary art. Visitors will find 17th- and 18th-century maps, books, and prints alongside modern works by artists including Harold Mendez, Julie Buffalohead, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Edouard Duval-Carrié, and Pepe Mar. A newly developed study center offers opportunities for hands-on engagement and deeper insight into how language, memory, and cultural traditions are preserved and reinterpreted across generations.

Unidad: The World’s Game

Created by the FIFA Museum, this exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the world's most beloved sport, showcasing its ability to unite billions of people across countries and time. Historic memorabilia, hands-on activities, and interactive installations provide a glimpse into defining moments that have shaped the evolution of the game. Presented in partnership with MDC, the exhibition links the global passion for soccer to Miami's vibrant culture.