Eyeing an official reopening in the fall, Miami Dade College’s Freedom Tower is putting together one-of-a-kind art installations in celebration of its centennial.
In preparation, the college has collected over 300 oral history archives telling the story of the national historic landmark, said María Carla Chicuén, the executive director of cultural affairs at Miami Dade College.
“Whether it was during the time that the tower served as the home of the Miami Daily News all the way to the Cuban refugee center that welcomed in over 400,000 Cuban refugees, so many of those refugees have participated in oral history interviews,” she said.
Along with stories told by Latin music icons Gloria and Emilio Estefan and Willy Chirino, the interviews have been recorded in English and Spanish, Ms. Chicuén said.
“They will be available throughout the Freedom Tower exhibitions, and we look forward to continuing to interview many more community members,” she added.
Notable art exhibition installations, she said, will include:
■“Libertad”: Chronicles powerful immigrant narratives through immersive media, personal stories, and historic artifacts, capturing the tower’s role as a beacon of hope and resilience for generations of immigrants.
■“Languages of Migration”: Housed in the Kislak Center, this exhibition explores global migration through rare maps, interactive storytelling, and spaces for personal reflection.
■“We Carry Our Homes With Us”: Featuring contemporary works by renowned artists like Ana Mendieta, Félix González-Torres, and Tomm El-Saieh, examining memory and the emotional impact of migration.
■“Unidad: The World’s Game,” developed in partnership with the FIFA Museum.
Earlier this year, the college introduced a 33-member Freedom Tower Centennial Committee representing South Florida’s cultural arts community. The Freedom Tower also launched a campaign seeking to raise funds to ensure a world-class exhibit that preserves the history of the building.
As visitors progress through the exhibitions, they will be invited to explore themes of identity and belonging. Whether through audio recordings, interactive displays or rare artifacts, each space will offer a personal connection to the past while inviting reflection on how those histories shape our present, Ms. Chicuén said.
“From monumental screens displaying quintessential Miami moments to the first-ever permanent Pedro Pan exhibit,” she continued, “the tower becomes not just a museum, but a mirror – honoring the questions, stories and dreams that continue to define the Miami community.”
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