Coral Castle Museum

If you are ever traveling down this way, you have to make time to visit the Coral Castle Museum.

Coral Castle was built by one man, Edward Leedskalnin. From 1923 to 1951, Ed single-handedly and secretly carved over 1,100 tons of coral rock, and his unknown process has created one of the world’s most mysterious accomplishments.

The castle was originally located in Florida City in the 1920’s but was moved single-handedly to it’s present location by Ed in the 1930’s.

It was a fascinating tour. When you arrive you are greeted by one of the tour guides who will direct you to join one of the on-going tours – don’t worry you won’t miss anything as it’s a circular tour and you can join and re-join as many times as you wish if you missed any part of it.

Ed was only 100 pounds and 5 feet tall but as you wander around you will be amazed at how this sleight man could maneuver large heavy and rough coral slabs to construct a selection of beds, tables, walls, his workshop and sleeping quarters.

The gate is perfectly balanced and is able to move by the slightest touch or by the wind - it has baffled engineers and the like.
The gate is perfectly balanced and is able to move by the slightest touch or by the wind – it has baffled engineers and the like.

Some of the features at the Coral Castle include a 9-ton gate that moves with just a touch of a finger, a Polaris telescope pin-pointing precisely where the north star is located and functioning rocking chairs – all made entirely of stone.

There is also the world’s largest and heaviest Valentine. The table is a perfect heart shape and weighs 5000 pounds!

The 9 ton gate is perfectly balanced and moves extremely easily. It is Ed’s amazing engineering skills that continue to baffle experts and visitors.

The gate is perfectly balanced and is able to move by the slightest touch or by the wind - it has baffled engineers and the like.
The gate is perfectly balanced and is able to move by the slightest touch or by the wind – it has baffled engineers and the like.

Ed accomplished this by drilling an eight foot longitudinal hole that precisely aligns with stone’s centre of gravity for perfect balance. The door fits within a quarter of an inch of the walls on either side. The door is so perfectly balanced that it can be easily pushed open using only a finger. How he did this remains a mystery, as even the most advanced electronic analysis equipment we have today would find it difficult to reproduce it.

Edward Leedskalnin’s life achievement, The Coral Castle, an undying testimony of his great love for Agnes Scuffs took him from 1923-1951 to complete. The only other tribute that can compare to the Coral Castle is the Taj Mahal, built over twenty years and by several thousand slaves, as monument to the King’s wife. Source: © Coral Castle Museum website

The World's Heaviest Valentine weighing in at 5000 pounds.
The World’s Heaviest Valentine weighing in at 5000 pounds.

Ed was apparently extremely interested in the solar system so carved his own interpretation which does not match the order of the planets of which we know today.

Although this doesn't follow the pattern in the current solar system Ed obviously enjoyed outer space.
Although this doesn’t follow the pattern in the current solar system Ed obviously enjoyed outer space.

From the far corner you can see Mars, Saturn, and the Crescent Moon, which Ed called the Crescent of the East.

A perfect to scale representation of the State of Florida - the water bowl represents Florida's largest Lake - Lake Okeechobee
A perfect scale representation of the State of Florida – the water bowl represents Florida’s largest Lake – Lake Okeechobee

The average weight of the stones is about 14 tons each. With these huge rocks, Ed built walls, erected a tower and a 22-ton obelisk. He made a variety of furniture including beds and rocking chairs, as well as a fountain, table, well, sundial and throne.


Exit Through the Gift Shop
Exit Through The Gift Shop

Please note that the main coral castle has no roof cover so sunscreen, umbrellas and rain ponchos are a good idea to have with you.

We had a sudden downpour on our visit but they have umbrellas at the ready and if yore on a a tour they will move to one of the covered parts of the castle to wait out the rain (unless, of course, you visit during rainy season then you could be in for a long wait)

You can always hide from the rain at the covered coffee shop area and then re-join the tour later, as the floor is prone to pools of water in heavy downpours.

There are options, but if you’re used to the Florida weather it’s best just to go with the flow, that way you’ll have a great time.


The Coral Castle Museum is open every day. For a map, directions and more information about Coral Castle follow the links below

Coral Castle Museum
Map/Location

6 thoughts on “Coral Castle Museum”

  1. This place has been on my to see list for a while, though admittedly more because of the Z-grade movies it’s turned up in from time to time than anything else. It’s always cooler than anything that’s actually supposed to be going on in said movies.

    Reply
    • Definitely take a trip it’s worth it and you come away with more questions than answers. I think I must have missed those Z list movies. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for them. Let me know what you think if you visit.

      Reply
      • Off the top of my head, I can come up with “Nude on the Moon”, a 60s nudie-cutie that’s exactly what it says on the label. Coral Castle plays the lunar surface. And the other is “Jimmy the Boy Wonder” A kiddie flick by gore-master H. G. Lewis, that was so completely both weird and awful that it remains to this day the only movie that has ever broken me. If forced at gunpoint to watch one or the other, I’d definitely go with the skin-flick, which is pretty innocent all things considered. They do look a bit uncomfortable sitting on those rocks though!

        I’ll definitely let you know what I think when I finally make it there!

        Reply

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