Just south of Miami Florida a little town called Homestead is one of the most interesting tourist attractions found not only in the state of Florida but also in the world.
This place is called the Coral Castle. It was built by one man over a period of 20 years. His name was Edward Leedskalnin. He dedicated his life to creating this 1100 tons structure of coral to a person that he loved who did not love him.
Ed was engaged to be married to a girl by the name of Agnes. He liked to call her his Sweet 16 because he was 26 years old and she was only 16.
Legend has it that on the day before the wedding, Agnes told Leedskalnin but she did not want to marry him. There are many conjectures regarding why. Some believe that it was because of his lack of education or money.
Whatever the reason was, this was a very life changing event for Ed Leedskalnin. It cost him to pack up and leave his hometown in Latvia and journey across the ocean to Canada to start his new life.
It is said that Edward Leedskalnin wandered about for several years. After making his way to Canada, he then moved down into California and eventually arrived in Texas. He worked several types of jobs including the lumber camps in Canada and California. He is said to have also been part of at least one cattle drive in Texas.
Visitors of coral castle can actually believe that these labor intensive jobs actually helped and prepared to make his 1100 tons structure. What is sad, and even confusing, is that this very strong man almost died from contracting tuberculosis before any of this ever began.
Luckily for Ed he was found by a local realtor that helped him back to good health and recover from the tuberculosis that he had contracted. Ed then purchased a $12 piece of land from the realtor and began to make his famous megalithic structure.
One of the reasons that most immigrants come to America is that they believe that our country is the land of opportunity and that through hard work and determination you can create a successful life of your own. This belief, and his love for his Sweet 16, caused Ed to begin though they Coral Castle.
This area of Florida has several thousand feet of coral extended beneath the topsoil. This provided with plenty of working material to create his coral home which consisted of chairs, beds, and interesting artifacts all made out of coral stone.
The mystery of Ed Leedskalnin is that no one ever found out his secret. No witness ever saw him move a single piece of coral and place or cut it into pieces that they became.
One of Ed's greatest creations is a single piece of coral called the Obelisk which weighs nearly 30 tons, stands 40 feet above the ground, and rests in the 6 foot deep hole. Today, modern engineers and modern equipment would be unable to duplicate what Ed was able to do with simple tools over 70 years ago. His secrets died with him in Miami in'51, secrets that still puzzle modern engineers today.
Therefore, despite his nearly fatal illness, Ed arose from the ashes of his previous life and created the amazing structure that tens of thousands of people visit each and every year. It is well worth taking the time to visit and admire this amazing coral structure created by one man's devotion and love to a woman that did not love him.
For people traveling in the Miami area, the Coral Castle is a must stop must see tourist attraction that is the life's work of one man who used his secret, a secret that has not been lost again. - 31515
This place is called the Coral Castle. It was built by one man over a period of 20 years. His name was Edward Leedskalnin. He dedicated his life to creating this 1100 tons structure of coral to a person that he loved who did not love him.
Ed was engaged to be married to a girl by the name of Agnes. He liked to call her his Sweet 16 because he was 26 years old and she was only 16.
Legend has it that on the day before the wedding, Agnes told Leedskalnin but she did not want to marry him. There are many conjectures regarding why. Some believe that it was because of his lack of education or money.
Whatever the reason was, this was a very life changing event for Ed Leedskalnin. It cost him to pack up and leave his hometown in Latvia and journey across the ocean to Canada to start his new life.
It is said that Edward Leedskalnin wandered about for several years. After making his way to Canada, he then moved down into California and eventually arrived in Texas. He worked several types of jobs including the lumber camps in Canada and California. He is said to have also been part of at least one cattle drive in Texas.
Visitors of coral castle can actually believe that these labor intensive jobs actually helped and prepared to make his 1100 tons structure. What is sad, and even confusing, is that this very strong man almost died from contracting tuberculosis before any of this ever began.
Luckily for Ed he was found by a local realtor that helped him back to good health and recover from the tuberculosis that he had contracted. Ed then purchased a $12 piece of land from the realtor and began to make his famous megalithic structure.
One of the reasons that most immigrants come to America is that they believe that our country is the land of opportunity and that through hard work and determination you can create a successful life of your own. This belief, and his love for his Sweet 16, caused Ed to begin though they Coral Castle.
This area of Florida has several thousand feet of coral extended beneath the topsoil. This provided with plenty of working material to create his coral home which consisted of chairs, beds, and interesting artifacts all made out of coral stone.
The mystery of Ed Leedskalnin is that no one ever found out his secret. No witness ever saw him move a single piece of coral and place or cut it into pieces that they became.
One of Ed's greatest creations is a single piece of coral called the Obelisk which weighs nearly 30 tons, stands 40 feet above the ground, and rests in the 6 foot deep hole. Today, modern engineers and modern equipment would be unable to duplicate what Ed was able to do with simple tools over 70 years ago. His secrets died with him in Miami in'51, secrets that still puzzle modern engineers today.
Therefore, despite his nearly fatal illness, Ed arose from the ashes of his previous life and created the amazing structure that tens of thousands of people visit each and every year. It is well worth taking the time to visit and admire this amazing coral structure created by one man's devotion and love to a woman that did not love him.
For people traveling in the Miami area, the Coral Castle is a must stop must see tourist attraction that is the life's work of one man who used his secret, a secret that has not been lost again. - 31515
