The Freedom Tower, a Mediterranean-style Miami landmark that served as a gateway into the United States for
thousands of Cuban immigrants, will reopen Saturday after undergoing a restoration that cost some $40 million.
Joe Garcia, executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF), told EFE that the tower "is the place where American (immigration) officials
processed some 500,000 Cubans in the 1960s and 1970s."
"It's a very important symbol of Cuban immigration to the United States, as well as of freedom, because your feeling of living in a free society would be restored
there. It's also a place that speaks of the generosity of the American people. There was a tragedy in our country, and they offered us help and refuge," Garcia
explained.
The tower was built in 1925 for the defunct Miami News. On June 29, 1962, it reopened as the Cuban Refugee Emergency Center.
In September 1997, late Cuban exile leader Jorge Mas Canosa's family purchased the Freedom Tower.
According to CANF documents, "with immense love and the legendary Cuban wit, the recently arrived (exiles) quickly named it 'The Refuge,' and faithful to its new
name, it provided financial assistance, food, medical attention, relocation and temporary housing" to Cubans.
"The Freedom Tower will endure to speak of our suffering, our losses, our dead, our hopes, our struggle for freedom," CANF President Jorge Mas Santos said.
The Freedom Tower was built in a style similar to the Giralda in Seville, Spain, and after closing its doors as the processing center for Cuban refugees in 1974, "it
went through a long string of owners, restorations, until finally, it was vacated and became run down."
"It needed a lot of renovation, and it has been restored floor by floor. The first floor will be an interactive museum to highlight the history of the Cuban exile
community and the experience of being a refugee."
"It will also have materials about Cuban prisons, the history of South Florida, Cuba and what's happening now," Garcia told EFE.
The three-phase restoration project began in mid-1999, and is scheduled to conclude on May 2, 2002, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the
Cuban Republic.
The tower will also have a graphic-arts gallery and meeting rooms, including the largest in South Florida, according to the CANF executive, and the third floor will
house a library and a collection of historic documents.
"As well as a room where people will have computer access to the history of the Cubans who came here. Our aim is to showcase what happened and prevent this
tragedy from occurring to any other nation," Garcia said.
"Understanding that requires having it explained to you. Many people don't understand our tragedy - the Cuban drama - and the fact that 1/5 of the Cuban people live
in exile," the CANF official said.
During the reopening ceremony, the tower will be illuminated with the colors of the Cuban flag, and Cuban artists, such as "The Queen of Salsa," Celia Cruz, and
singers Jon Secada and Willy Chirino are expected to perform.
