Sometimes it is difficult to figure out what will be the next family vacation. Even though going to the beach is a great family time, there is nothing unusual or unique about it. The Coral Castle which is located in Homestead, Florida is definitely a unique experience.
Coral Castle is a spectacular castle constructed out of, that’s right, coral. It was built by a man named Ed Leedskalnin. What’s so special about that, you may ask? It is amazing since Ed Leedskalnin, who built Coral Castle, only weighed 100 pounds, and he didn’t use any advanced tools. In fact, he used only handmade tools. Each wall of the castle weighs a ton. There are photographs of him pulling a slab of coral out of the ground but no other machines are helping him.
Ed Leedskalnin was born in Riga, Latvia on August 10, 1887. He built Coral Castle as a dedication to his first love. He often referred to her as his sweet sixteen. They never married, but he hoped one day she would come to see the castle, but she never did. People often wondered how such a petite man was able to lift such heavy stones. He would tell them that he simply knew the secrets of the pyramids in Egypt. He said that anyone could do it, but he never revealed the secrets.
It took Ed Leedskalnin 28 years to carve the castle. In addition to the castle, he also carved a telescope, a rocking chair, and a doorway which can move with the touch of a finger.
The hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The cost of admission is $12.00 for adults and $7.00 for children.
Coral Castle has a gift shop where visitors can purchase items like t-shirts, stuffed toys, books, DVDs, and miniature replicas of Coral Castle. The following DVD title sales for $18.00: Coral Castle the Story of Ed Leedskalnin & His American Stonehenge.
The Coral Castle is compared to the Taj Mahl because both builders dedicated a structure to the memory of a woman. Coral castle is definitely a great vacation choice for the entire family. What Ed Leedskalnin has left behind is truly a great and magnificent piece of art which will be around for thousands of years.
Sources:
http://www.coralcastle.com