Why it matters: Often called the ‘Ellis Island of the South,’ the Freedom Tower served as El Refugio, where the federal Cuban Assistance Program processed and supported some 400,000 Cuban refugees fleeing the Castro regime in the 1960s and 70s. Run by Miami Dade College, it reopened in 2025 after a two-year restoration with permanent exhibitions that tell those immigration stories. You can admire the 1925 Mediterranean Revival landmark from outside for free, or buy a ticket to see the exhibits and the restored interior.
Good to know
600 Biscayne Blvd · National Historic Landmark & museum · exterior free, exhibitions ticketed