Coral Castle, Stone structure and museum in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Coral Castle is a sculpture garden made of coral limestone in Homestead, Florida, composed of more than 1000 tons of hand-shaped stone. Walls, furniture pieces, and astronomical objects are cut from massive blocks weighing several tons each, all shaped without modern machinery.
Edward Leedskalnin, an immigrant from Latvia, built the complex between 1923 and 1951 working alone with hand tools and no technical assistance. In 1936 he moved the entire structure from Florida City to its present location in Homestead.
Leedskalnin carved signs at the front gate reading "Ring Bell Twice" and "Adm. 10c Drop Below"; he came down from his second-floor quarters to lead tours himself. Red roses are still planted on the grounds, said to be the favourite flowers of the girl he called his "Sweet Sixteen".
The site lies south of Miami on Route 1 in Homestead and opens daily, with guided tours available through the grounds. The place is best explored on foot, and visitors should allow enough time to examine the individual sculptures and structures closely.
A gate weighing nine tons can be opened with a light push of the fingers because it rests perfectly balanced on a metal shaft. The construction remained functional for decades without maintenance until the shaft eventually needed to be replaced.
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