Visiting Pier 5
Walking back toward Bayside Marketplace and continuing north, you'll come to Pier 5. A pier only in name, this is the place where you'll find the real spirit of Miami showing itself. Local artists gather to display their paintings, prints, jewelry, home decorations, and just about anything else that's inspired them! Come discover Miami's promising new talent.The original Pier 5 was Miami's top tourist attraction in the 1950's. Similar to San Francisco's Wharf, it was a place for fisherman to dock at the end of the day, housewives to buy fish for supper, and other locals to congregate and talk. When it was destroyed by a hurricane, it was not rebuilt, but today's Pier 5 stands on the original site.
If you're lucky, you may catch some live entertainment. There are planned concert events held outdoors, as well as street performers bringing smiles to the faces of all those that pass by. If you're feeling artistic, bring an easel and capture the feel of this little piece of day-to-day life on the water. Once you've reflected on the life we enjoy here in Miami, it's time to head off to…
Freedom Tower
As you return to Biscayne Boulevard and continue north, you can't miss the large tower looming over you. That's the famous Miami Freedom Tower. If you_re a student of architecture, you might notice that the tower has a Spanish appearance. When it was constructed in 1925, architects modeled it after Spain's Giralda Tower.
The tower is often referred to as the "Ellis Island of the South." The U.S. government purchased this Miami landmark from a newspaper in 1957 and began using it to process the flood of Cuban refugees seeking asylum from the Castro regime in the 1960s and 70s.
Currently, the tower stands empty. In 1997, it was purchased by the Cuban American National Foundation who embarked upon a massive renovation program aimed at restoring the tower to its former glory and cultivating it as a historical landmark. It is set to reopen on May 20, 2002, the 100th anniversary of Cuba's independence from Spain.
When the $40 million renovation is complete, visitors will be treated to a courtyard of native Cuban plants, a library and research center, and an interactive museum aimed at helping contemporary society understand the plight of Cuban immigrants. The museum includes a virtual reality experience simulating the journey as they navigated the stormy seas between Cuba and South Florida in poorly constructed rafts.
That's the end of our walking tour of the waterfront region. Hopefully, you've learned something new about our fair city during your stroll. If you'd like some ideas on other spots to visit in Miami, take a look at our Attractions subject page.
