From time immemorial, men have created fabulous stone works that have excited the curiosity of later generations. People have marveled at the Pyramids of Egypt, Stonehenge of England, the Great Wall of China, and other famous stone works scattered about the earth. One of the most awe-inspiring stone creations is the Coral Castle of Florida, created single-handedly by the late Edward Leedskalnin, an obscure Latvian immigrant. Located 25 miles south of Miami on U.S. Highway 1, it is breathtaking in scope and imagination, unbelievable for skill and patience required. Constructed in complete secrecy, it baffles engineers and laymen alike. The story of this fantastic castle began more than …show more content…
He built a house from logs cut from the surrounding pine trees and coral rock which he quarried on the premises. Thus began the strange and unusual project he set for himself, interrupted only by his moving to a larger plot of ground three miles north of Homestead, which after 25 years of continuous labor culminated in the completion of what can only be described as one of the strangest works of man in all history. The Coral Castle is no ordinary structure. It is set on a 10-acre tract of land, the castle proper being surrounded by an eight-foot- high wall made of huge blocks of coral rock, each weighing several tons. The tower contains 243 tons, the first floor of which Leedskalnin used as a workshop and the second floor housed his living quarters. An air of mystery prevailed about these quarters since no one was permitted entry. Behind the huge walls of the castle in beautiful settings are fantastic pieces of coral rock furniture and movable objects which he created from his fertile imagination. There are rocking