100 Years in the Making: Miami’s First Skyscraper Reopens After $65M Restoration

A century after it first defined Miami’s skyline, the city’s original skyscraper is ready for a new chapter. The Miami News Tower—better known today as the Freedom Tower—will reopen soon following an extensive $65 million restoration, according to the Associated Press.

A Landmark Born in the Roaring Twenties

The tower first opened its doors in 1925, making 2025 its centennial year. Built by businessman and former Ohio governor James Middleton Cox, who had moved to Miami in 1923 after purchasing the Miami Daily News, the building quickly became a symbol of the city’s growth and ambition.

Designed by New York architectural firm Schultze and Weaver, the 289-foot tower was modeled after the iconic Giralda bell tower of Seville Cathedral in Spain. The same firm would later design the Waldorf Astoria in New York and The Breakers in Palm Beach.

When it opened, the Miami News Tower wasn’t just the tallest building in the South—it also served as a navigation landmark for ships approaching Miami’s shores.

Storms, Survival, and a New Identity

In 1926, a powerful hurricane left the building leaning at a startling 33-degree angle. The tilt was later corrected, preserving the tower’s striking silhouette.

The 1960s brought a new era and a new name: The Freedom Tower. During that decade, it became a vital processing center for thousands of Cuban refugees, cementing its place not just in Miami’s skyline, but in its cultural and humanitarian history.

Looking Ahead

Now owned by Miami Dade College, the Freedom Tower’s restoration ensures that this century-old icon will continue to serve the community—this time as a revitalized beacon of history, architecture, and resilience.

As it reopens, visitors will once again be able to step inside a building that has witnessed the story of Miami unfold—from the jazz-filled 1920s to today’s modern, international city.