House of Freedom, Tower of Dreams

A Production
In association with

House of Freedom, Tower of Dreams is a WLRN Public Television documentary, created in association with The Miami Herald, and funded in part by Tropiculture and The Bacardi Family Foundation. & House of Freedom, Tower of Dreams.
House of Freedom, Tower of Dreams is a one-hour documentary that traces the history of the Miami News Tower beginning with its construction in 1924, to the present day and the historical, emotional and social significance the tower has generated throughout the years.
Imagination was key to the creation of the Freedom Tower. Its original owner, James Cox, had the dream of creating a home for his media empire and would never know the significance the Tower would have to so many people.

Playing host to many dreams and opportunities over the last 75 years, the Tower remains a prominent figure in the history of South Florida. Evoking strong emotions in all who experience her beauty and grace, the Tower stands as a monument to the hopes and the dreams of all who passed through her doors.
Once described as Miami's own Ellis Island, The Freedom Tower served as the leading gateway to life in America between 1962 and 1974 for almost half a million Cuban refugees. Those who journeyed through this portal of salvation will tell their heartfelt stories of triumph over tragedy.
The Freedom Tower documentary project began as a dream for WLRN and the road to completion would be arduous, yet rewarding.
In early 2002, the seed was planted to tell the history of the tower by delving into the stories of those influenced by its existence. Joining forces with the Miami Herald, the process of interviewing, researching and examining all aspects of the Tower began.
Through the pages of the paper, the two partners extended an invitation to South Floridians to share their stories and give the tower a voice.
One underlying theme prominent in all the stories was a great love for a place that had unconditionally opened its doors. The tower became more than merely an immense structure but a character in a multi-act play.
Although WLRN has produced a number of award winning programs throughout the years, a venture like the Freedom Tower would be a milestone.
The production would span over five months and include a significant portion of WLRN's resources. The climax of the project came in November with a weeklong shoot at the Tower itself. Over 60 volunteers and extras were involved in this production requiring the aid of the City of Miami to shut down portions of Biscayne Boulevard during the shoot.
Over the next six months, the project went from dream to reality. The script was completed, the video was edited and the end result went far beyond WLRN's expectations.
As told by the people who helped shape the tower's history, House of Freedom, Tower of Dreams chronicles the evolution of the Tower. From its days as a burgeoning media center to a time when its doors were open to those in need, these stories reveal what this historical landmark means to South Florida's people and how it's preservation will help unite our diverse community.
House of Freedom, Tower of Dreams is hosted by local historian, Dr. Paul George, produced by Mia Laurenzo and director of photography was Ricardo Barredo.

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