To wrap up our study on coral I wanted to include a stop to see the infamous Coral Castle which is also a historic landmark. When I first read about the castle (about 2 years ago) I asked several people we knew if they’ve ever visited and though a few said it was on their list, no one I knew had ever gone! After our recent trip there I can only say, what a shame that is! Although its in the middle of a commercial area (thus seeming out of place), it’s truly a neat place to visit and the tour guides are VERY knowledgeable.
Built by Edward Leedskalnin the Coral Castle (once known as Rock Gate Park) is constructed of over 1,100 tons of coral that Ed excavated, moved and built without any assistance or heavy machinery ( in the middle of the night) as a testimony for his undying love to Agnes—a woman 10 years his junior whom he was engaged to marry and who called off their wedding the day before and then refused to ever visit the castle he built in her honor! I’m not sure what it was that turned her off so bad on poor Ed, perhaps she heard about the Petulance Corner (his version of time out) that he built for both her and the children?
One of the reasons the Coral Castle is amazing is that Ed was only five feet tall and weighed just 100 pounds while some of the coral that he constructed was sometimes 4,000 feet thick! He was very secretive so he worked at night when no one could observe him.
Today the Coral Castle is beautiful, but the coral is obviously not in the original condition that it was when Ed constructed it. Originally it was all perfectly smooth and today, it has weathered and rough (in part to hurricane and a previous owner who pressure washed everything).
Ed’s work has continued to baffle scientists over the years. Not one of them can figure out how a man with only a 4th grade education was able to achieve so much and even construct an a/c current generator and what is now known as a pressure cooker using recycled auto parts. Some have even compared his secret method of construction to Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids.
We had a wonderful time and were most impressed by the literature we were given and the wonderful guides that were on hand to give tours and really bring to life what you saw. G-man could probably get a job as a tour guide when he turns 16 as I caught him giving mini tours for his brother and sister (repeating practically verbatim what he had heard the guide say previously).
The kids had a wonderful time and could have easily stayed longer. They enjoyed sitting in all the various chairs and thrones. My favorite was the Florida table complete with water basin (for lake Okeechobee).
We did purchase the DVD for the drive home. It was a very interesting place to visit and it was amazing to see what one (love sick) man was able to create from coral.
The website is under construction but you can view some of the photos here.
