On display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., this weathered, handmade raft stands as a haunting, deeply moving symbol of human determination and the desperate quest for freedom. Crafted from foam, wood, and salvaged materials, the small boat was used by Cuban migrants attempting to reach the United States by sea—a dangerous and often deadly journey.
Set against a projection of gently undulating ocean waves, the raft is part of the museum’s American Stories exhibition, which showcases artifacts representing key turning points and narratives in the nation’s social and cultural fabric. This particular artifact tells the story of Cuban balseros—rafters who fled the island during waves of political unrest, particularly in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union and Cuba’s resulting economic crisis.
The raft's construction is stark and sobering: styrofoam hull, layers of cracked paint, salvaged lumber, and hand-lashed oars. There are no navigation instruments, no safety features—just hope and the will to survive. It was built for one purpose: to float long enough to escape. It tells a raw truth about immigration: that it is often an act of courage, desperation, and hope all at once.
Displayed under glass, the raft invites quiet reflection. Visitors circle the artifact slowly, confronted with both its fragility and the enormity of what it represents. The surrounding exhibit panels detail personal accounts of balseros, U.S. Coast Guard encounters, and the political policies that shaped their fate—including the now-defunct “wet foot, dry foot” policy that once allowed Cuban migrants who reached U.S. soil to seek asylum.
This image captures not just a physical object, but a story of risk, loss, and the pursuit of freedom. The vivid blue ocean background reinforces the peril of the voyage and the vastness of the journey these individuals undertook. It also serves as a reminder that immigration stories are woven into the heart of American identity, and that freedom has never come easily for those seeking it.
Whether viewed as a piece of political history, a human rights symbol, or a meditation on resilience, this raft is one of the museum’s most emotionally resonant artifacts. It speaks not only to Cuban-American history, but also to global struggles for liberty and survival.
This photo stands as a poignant visual reminder that every object in a museum once had a human hand behind it—and a human heart within it, hoping for something better on the other shore.
