by Glen Howard

Created on: February 17, 2009   Last Updated: February 26, 2009

Cubans have always existed in Miami, ever since Cuba became a "colony" of the United States after the Spanish-American War of 1898. After the Cuban Revolution of1959 many Cubans who were living in Miami went back to Cuba to assist in nation building. However as the chief leader of the revolution,Fidel Castro, became increasingly hardlined against the percieved enemies of the revolution,which included the United States; and declared his desire for a socialist pathway of development (an alliance with the then Soviet Union), many upper and middle class persons became dissillusioned and fearful. They migrated back to Miami in mass numbers.

Many of those Cubans later participated in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, in which the US attempted to overthrow the Castro regime. Throughout the 1960s there were daily exile flights organized from Havana to Miami. Most of these exiles settled in the Riverside neighborhood, which later became known as "Little Havana," a predominantly Cuban community. Today, this area has emerged as a predominantly spanish-speaking community, incorporating other spanish speaking peoples. However, Little Havana remains as the symbolic center for the vibrant Cuban community.

In 1968 the Cuban Adjustment Act was formulated. This stated that the immigration status of any Cuban who arrived since 1959 and had been physically present in the United States for at least a year may become a green card holder. Following this Act, the mass wave of immigration continued throughout the decades of the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's, bringing thousands of Cubans to the shores of Miami.

To control the mass exodus of Cubans, the Clinton administration made a change in US policy. The administration, after agreements with the Cuban government, stated that Cubans intercepted at sea would not be brought to the United States but instead be repatriated to Cuba unless they could give substantial evidence of persecution if they were repatriated to Cuba. Those who made it to shore could stay in the US and become eligible to hold a green card. These agreements became known as the Wet Foot-Dry Foot Policy.

Today, the county and city of Miami has many historical monuments and relics of Cuban history. They include the:

Freedom Tower: This was formerly known as the Offices of the Miami News. It later became a processing center for Cuban immigrants, and later functioned as a medical clinic and classrooms for English lessons.

Maximo Gomez Park: This is also known as Domino Park. People

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