Edward Leedskalnin was a man in love. Engaged to a 16 year old named Agnes Scuffs he immigrated to American from Latvia in the 1910's and planned to be married happily ever after. But on the eve of their wedding night she told him the nuptials were off and left him . Distraught and in ill heath he traveled to South Florida in 1918 and purchased 5 acres of property. Still obsessed with his bride, (whom he called sweet sixteen) he began building a home that was both a tribute to her and one of Florida's first tourist attractions.

A small section of the sprawling grounds of coral castle

Using only the natural coral rock on the property Ed began carving furniture, walls, sundials and whatever else his mind could devise. He studied magnetic currents and only worked by himself to construct a stunning tribute to Agnes. In 1923 he opened the gates to the public with a quarter admission charge.

Visitors were astounded by the creativity the site possessed as well as the weight of some of the coral rock constructions. There was a coral rock bed for the bride and groom, a table in the shape of Florida with 10 chairs and even a throne room where he could sit with his wife. Ed claimed that he used the same magnetic powers the Egyptians used to raise the pyramids in moving the stones (some of which weighed up to 5,000 pounds).

In 1936 Ed moved his entire creation 10 miles down the road to a sight that attracted more tourists. He disassembled the site at night so no one else could see how he was able to move the massive stones.

In 1951 Ed died of stomach cancer and the home went through several different owners until being bought in 1983 by businessman Irving Barr. In an ironic twist, Irving said he bought the home as a gift to his wife.

The Coral Castle is located at 28655 South Dixie Highway in Homestead Florida.

sources

- "Historic Florida" Florida Travel Bureau 1988 published by the state of Florida

-"Sites and Homes" Florida State Registry of Historic Places 1995

photo courtesy of Rich Swim