Florida's Coral Castle

In Florida there exists a true love story come to life. Although the story doesn't end as ideally as we often would like, it is possible to experience part of the grandeur for ourselves.

In 1921 Latvian immigrant Edward Leedskelnin decided to build a castle on the coast of southern Florida designed to impress and win the heart of his beloved Agnes. Constructed entirely out of coral harvested and transported from the ocean floor about ten miles away, it took him twenty-eight years or nearly three decades to complete.

Working only under cover of darkness, Leedskelnin claimed to have unlocked the mystery behind the building of the pyramids and used that technique to maneuver the massive blocks into place. He told no one how he did it. Once he died, the secret died along with him. Architects and engineers have been unable to duplicate his technique even today.

Unfortunately Agnes was resolute in her decision not to marry Edward, but his structural masterpiece still stands as a monument of his love and devotion to her.

Thousands of tourists flock to take in this enchanting coastal atmosphere every year.  The castle's coral majesty and timeless fairytale-like origin lends a romantic yet tragic effect to every imagination.

Understandably Leedskelnin was extremely proud of his work and loved to show it off. While he was still alive he led private tours and charged no more than twenty-five cents per person.

Unfortunately, the one person for which the castle was built never laid eyes on his creation.