(14 Aug 2025)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Miami, Florida – 8 August 2025
1. Various drone aerials of Miami’s Freedom Tower against skyline +MUTE+
2. Freedom tower and palms
3. Tower architectural detail
4. Tower and palms
5. Hand placed in ring of exhibit
6. Wide digital exhibit
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Madeline Pumariega, president of Miami Dade College:
“This fall, the Freedom Tower turns 100 years old, and what we are doing is opening up the Freedom Tower after a project to restore it to its beautiful originality that the Freedom Tower has, but most importantly be able to tell the story of Miami through an exhibit called Libertad.”
8. Wide Pumariega and exhibit
9. Artifacts of Cuban refugees
10. Wide digital display showing Cuban migration
11. Close composition book of Cuban refugee child
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Madeline Pumariega, president of Miami Dade College:
“In 1961 it opened its doors as the refugee center for the Cubans that were leaving Cuba because of communism and political persecution and were leaving their homes. They came to the Freedom Tower, to the refugee center, and that stayed open for a decade, and nearly 400,000 Cubans came through the Freedom Tower.”
13. Video on screen showing Cuban migration
14. Close newspaper article about Cuban family
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Rene Ramos, head archivist at Miami Dade College:
“The assistance refugees got here was just basic physical assistance, you know, assistance with medical care, with food. There was some monetary assistance to help people get started.”
16. Close food tins given to refugees
17. Wide Pumariega and display
18. Close screen
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Rene Ramos, head archivist at Miami Dade College:
“The one clear name that people used to refer to this building was El Refugio. The Refuge. I think it was a very powerful way for them to refer to the place because it was a safe space. It was a place where they came to feel safe.”
20. Close crucifix of refugee
21. Wide recreated entry hall
22. Mural
23. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorge Malagón, history professor who came through Freedom Tower as a refugee at the age of 5:
“I had not been back here in 58 years and the moment that I walked into that Great Hall. I’m sure you saw the Great Hall with the mural. Right the moment I walked into that Great Hall, it hit me. The emotion hit me like like a nuclear bomb. It was just, it was uncontrolled, it was just all of a sudden uncontrolled, and the tears just flowed.”
24. Close photograph of Malagón and his aunt
25. Man turning newspaper exhibit
26. Wide exhibit
27. Close man touching display
28. SOUNDBITE (English) Rene Ramos, head archivist at Miami Dade College:
“I think it’s cyclical. I think this country has had moments where it clearly saw the value of immigrants. And then maybe other moments when it didn’t. What I think [we do here is we remind people of what immigrants can do when they’re given the opportunity, what kind of talent can arise and grow from a community that’s given an opportunity.”
29. Exterior tower and street
30. U.S. and Cuban flags on tower
31. Tower and street
32. Various drone footage of tower
STORYLINE:
LEAD IN :
After decades of neglect, Miami’s Freedom tower, once Miami’s tallest building has received a well-deserved facelift.
Next month, it will reopen as a museum honoring the history of Cuban exiles with immersive, state-of-the-art exhibits that explore the meaning of migration, freedom and homeland.
STORYLINE:
The reopening of what’s dubbed the Ellis Island of the South comes at a sensitive moment.
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