MIAMI — The Miami Freedom Tower is launching its soft opening this week, and curators are looking for more participants in its interactive exhibits.
Often referred to as the “Statue of Liberty of the South,” the Freedom Tower served as a processing center for Cuban exiles fleeing Fidel Castro’s regime in the 1960s.
“Today we have collected over 350 oral histories, and the goal is to continue to collect and share stories,” said Maryam Laguna Borrego, the senior vice president and chief operating officer for Miami Dade College.
Rene Ruiz, a fashion designer who was born in Cuba and arrived during the Mariel boatlift, said it was an honor to contribute.
Curators encourage families with ties to the Freedom Tower to come and participate in a recording on-site.
The Miami Freedom Tower is at 600 Biscayne Boulevard. For more information about how to contribute to the research archive, visit his page.
Watch the special
- Daughter of Cuban exiles: Jenise Fernandez shares her family’s story as the Freedom Tower reopens
- Freedom Tower reopens its doors, celebrating a century as the crown jewel of Miami
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