The castle made of coral

In Homestead, Florida, stands a true labor of love – a castle carved out of 1,100 tons of coral rock.

For almost three decades Edward Leedskalnin single-handedly built the castle as a monument to lost love after being jilted a day before his wedding by his bride-to-be.

Leedskalnin had got engaged to 16-year-old Agnes Scuffs, who he fondly called his ‘Sweet Sixteen’, in his native Latvia when he was 26.

After she walked out on him he moved to Canada then California and Texas but he developed tuberculosis and decided to move to the warmer climate in Florida to improve his health. 

He built the castle for her as a testament to his lost love, initially beginning construction in 1923 and completing it in 1951.   

Edward Leedskalnin built the castle as a testament to his lost love, initially beginning construction in 1923 and completing it in 1951

Billy Idol's 'Sweet Sixteen' was inspired by the true story of Coral Castle. Above the entrance to Coral Castle

Billy Idol’s ‘Sweet Sixteen’ was inspired by the true story of Coral Castle. Above the entrance to Coral Castle

Above is the bedroom area of the castle showing two beds and a crib up top that Leedskalnin built hopeful that one day he would have a family

Above is the bedroom area of the castle showing two beds and a crib up top that Leedskalnin built hopeful that one day he would have a family

Leedskalnin, who was born in Riga on August 10, 1887, initially lived in Florida City when he moved to the state and started building the castle there. 

Then in 1936 he moved to Homestead and spent three years moving the structures the 10 miles to where they stand today with the help of a friend who had a tractor trailer. 

No one knows exactly how Leedskalnin built the castle as he did it in secret, doing most of the labor at night under the cover of darkness and although people reported seeing the structures moving along the highways no one ever saw him loading or unloading the coral.

Many theories speculate that he was helped by ‘aliens’ or had learnt how to levitate the heavy rocks. 

When questioned about how he moved the blocks of coral, Ed would only reply that he understood the laws of weight and leverage well. He would only say that he knew ‘the secret of the pyramids’. 

Billy Idol’s ‘Sweet Sixteen’ was inspired by the true story of Coral Castle. Idol wrote the song during the making of his 1983 album Rebel Yell after watching ‘The Castle of Secrets’, an episode of Leonard Nimoy’s ‘In Search Of’ program which was based on Coral Castle. 

No one know exactly how Leedskalnin built the castle as he did it in secret, doing most of the labor at night under the cover of darkness

No one know exactly how Leedskalnin built the castle as he did it in secret, doing most of the labor at night under the cover of darkness

A picture of Leedskalnin is seen right at the the entrance to the castle and, seen left, his initials carved onto a door of his home

Take a seat! Rocking chairs are scattered throughout the castle grounds like the one seen above

Take a seat! Rocking chairs are scattered throughout the castle grounds like the one seen above

Idol wrote the song during the making of his 1983 album Rebel Yell after watching 'The Castle of Secrets', an episode of Leonard Nimoy's 'In Search Of' program which was based on Coral Castle. A still from the video is pictured

Billy Idol's 'Sweet Sixteen' was inspired by the true story of Coral Castle

Billy Idol’s ‘Sweet Sixteen’ was inspired by the true story of Coral Castle. Idol wrote the song during the making of his 1983 album Rebel Yell after watching ‘The Castle of Secrets’, an episode of Leonard Nimoy’s ‘In Search Of’ program which was based on Coral Castle. Stills from the video are seen above

According to the castle’s website, in December of 1951 Leedskalnin, who never married or had children, became ill. He put a sign on the door of his saying ‘going to the hospital’ and died three days later in his sleep at the age of 64.

His nephew inherited it and sold it to a family from Illinois. During the sale a box was found containing a set of instructions that led to his life savings – 35 $100 bills.

He had made his money giving tours of his home to visitors for 10 cents and 25 cents from the sale of his pamphlets.

Today people can still tour the castle to view the manmade masterpiece. 

No one know exactly how Leedskalnin built the castle as he did it in secret, doing most of the labor at night under the cover of darkness and although people reported seeing the structures moving along the highways no one ever saw him loading or unloading the coral

Leedskalnin's nephew inherited the castle and sold it to a family from Illinois. During the sale a box was found containing a set of instructions that led to his life savings - 35 $100 bills.

Leedskalnin’s nephew inherited the castle and sold it to a family from Illinois. During the sale a box was found containing a set of instructions that led to his life savings – 35 $100 bills.

A sign greeting visitors

A sun dial in the castle i

A sun dial in the castle is pictured right and a sign greeting visitors at the entrance is seen left

According to the castle's website, in December of 1951 Leedskalnin, who never married or had children, became ill. He put a sign on the door of his saying 'going to the hospital' and died three days later in his sleep at the age of 64

According to the castle’s website, in December of 1951 Leedskalnin, who never married or had children, became ill. He put a sign on the door of his saying ‘going to the hospital’ and died three days later in his sleep at the age of 64



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