Celebrating the immigration and friendship between Florida and various nations, the Circle of Friendship is part of Bayfront Park in Miami, Florida. Featuring an everlasting flame designed to be a welcoming beacon for visitors and immigrants, the monument has fulfilled a vision around cultivating and connecting people and nations across space and time.
Connecting with Immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean
The Circle of Friendship was built in 1960 to signify the passageway for immigrants coming from Latin America and the Caribbean. The gas-fired torch installed at the top of an 18-foot pedestal is the most notable feature of the landmark but it resides in front of a wall with 20 round plates showing the coat of arms and names of numerous Latin American and Caribbean countries. A space between the plates of Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic is notably empty, highlighting the desire for this type of connection with the country of Cuba that has still not materialized.
In 1964, the Torch was rededicated in memory of President John F. Kennedy, who had lost his life a few months earlier. Kennedy had appeared in Bayfront Park at a Presidential campaign rally in the fall of 1960, providing another point of connection for the space to the nation.
The plaza encircling the torch has served as a gathering point for demonstrations and protests ever since it was created. On New Year’s Eve, a Christmas tree is set and dominates the space, while various exhibitions dedicated to Latin America and Cuba periodically open in the space. This additional connection to the people and history of these many nations is evident with the placement of these plazas and statues of Simon Bolivar and Juan Ponce de Leon that surround the Torch of Friendship.
Intended to be a monument to Miami’s perpetual friendship with Latin America, the Torch of Friendship is connected to a spirit of comraderies that permeates the space and all of Miami, showcasing what it can mean for a monument to impact the hearts and minds of audiences from multiple countries, regardless of where they reside.
A Symbol of Openness and Hospitality
Symbolizing America’s openness and hospitality, the camaraderie that the Torch of Friendship signifies has come to serve as an example of the culture of Miami itself. Doing so has enabled it to fulfill a vision of everlasting friendship to neighboring countries in a way that defines the physical space of downtown Miami while also providing connection to communities across multiple eras and entire countries.
