Last post on my Stay-cation series...
On my way home from Key West, I stopped by a fascinating place called
Coral Castle. Years ago I saw something on Discovery Channel (you know, back when Discovery used to have decent and educational programming) about odd or mysterious places. Featured on the show was Coral Castle. I'd never heard about it before. I was immediately intrigued by the place, especially since it's relatively close (about a couple hours due east) from where I live. I put the location down in my phone as something to remember to explore at some point, but long ago forgot about it in the process of changing phones and losing my notes. I can't remember when or how I came upon this place again. Maybe it was during one my Adventure researchings. Whatever the case, as soon as I saw the name I remembered it as one of my many places of interest I intended to someday explore.
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| Ed's greeting at the front entrance of the Castle. |
A little history...
What makes Coral Castle so interesting and mysterious is that entire thing, every building, every sculpture was built by one man. To this day no one knows for sure how he did it. Each piece was built under secrecy. When asked, Ed Leedskalnin, creator of this "unusual" place, would give only vague answers. He said he figured out how the Great Pyramids were built, and that anyone could do it once you knew how. He died without telling anyone why or how the Castle came to be and so rumors of the supernatural blossomed and persist about the man and the place even today.
What we know...
Ed spent 28 years making each piece in his coral garden from homemade tools. His sculptures are all made out of a mineral made out of limestone and coral that he quarried himself. He designed each chair to be ergonomically correct for his body. So even though they're made out of stone, they are actually quiet comfortable. Yes, I did sit in some of the chairs. Since I'm about the same size as Ed was (he was a wee little man), they were just right for me. Pretty cool.
There are some pieces weighing in at 30 tons. Which all just add to the lore of how one man could move such large objects and build this magnificent place all by himself.
The lore...
Some say the rock gardens and castle are all a tribute to a lost love. Supposedly he was jilted shortly before he was to be married to his long time sweetheart.
An eye witness (a little boy) stated that he happened to catch a glimpse of Ed working in his garden and said that huge pieces of rock were levitating like 'hydrogen balloons.'
Whatever the truth, this is a very cool place to visit and I'm so glad to have finally been able to see it in person. There are daily guided tours in which you'll learn much about the man and each piece in the garden. Stop by and see it for yourself if ever you find yourself in or near Homestead.
Without further ado, here's some pictures of Coral Castle.... indeed an 'unusual accomplishment.'
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| Ergonomically correct lounge chairs. |
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| Polaris telescope. |
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| Florida-shaped dinner table. |
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| Throne room. |
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| Well that Ed carved out himself. |
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| Not all things lovely at Coral Castle are made out of stone... |
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| Sun dial (I think). |
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| Where the man cooked his meals. |
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| Comfy chairs. |
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It reads:
The most frequent question overheard here is: "How did one man without
assistance construct the Coral Castle"? The answer is: - with an
uncanny knowledge of the laws of leverage and balance, engineering, and
sculpture, and with eh aid of simple tools such as metal falls, (block
and tackle) rollers, jack,s wedges, slings, cables, sledges and chisels.
And above all infinite patience and a tremendous imagination.
The tools displayed here - many made from old auto parts- were used by Edward Leeskalnin in building the Coral Castle.
While today the Coral Castle is a priceless work of art it is believed
that Leesklnin's cost was minimal since he excavated the coral rock from
the premises and recycled old auto parts.
He lived n the
second floor of this building in a very Spartan fashion, had no
electricity or running water. He spent time in later years in the study
of magnetism, astronomy and radio, and was seen often in the Homestead
Public Library. He died in Dec. 1951 at the age of 64.
The Coral Castle is privately owened and has been open to the public since 1953.
***However tours where given before that as well, by the man himself Ed
Leedskalnin. He personally gave a guided tour to anyone who came at
$.10 a head.
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Ed's modest sleeping quarters.
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| The "Castle" or tower. Where Ed lived when he wasn't in his gardens. |
"There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open."
~Jawahrial Nehru
Until next time...
~M
