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HOMESTEAD - Each piece of this coral creation tells a story. Coral Castle looks to the cosmos
By Sharon Shapiro/Tampa Tribune CorrespondentOriginally published March 21, 1996
Latvian immigrant Ed Leedskalnin built Coral Castle, often called America's Stonehenge. Even the furniture is coral.
In the courtyard, a sundial looks more like a giant half of a clam shell. It keeps standard time between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., the hours Ed believed a man should work. It also indicates the summer solstice and the winter equinox.
A 20-foot-long block of coral in the shape of Florida is surrounded by 10 coral chairs, which are surprisingly comfortable. A small water basin in the table represents Lake Okeechobee. On the north wall is a 25-foot-high Polaris telescope focused on the North Star.
The Moon Fountain consists of two quarter moons representing the first and last quarters and a round fountain for the full moon. A six-pointed star is in its center.
The Crescent Moon and Planets carvings on the east wall contain the 20-foot tall Crescent of the East, weighing more than 23 tons; the planet Mars (on which Ed believed there was life); and Saturn, complete with its rings.
Ed built an outdoor bedroom for the children he had hoped to have. It contains a 155-pound rocking cradle, a child's rocker and two children's beds. Completing the sleeping area are a carved bathtub and a mirror made from a standing basin with black slate in the bottom covered with water. The reflection is nearly as good as a modern mirror, if you can stand shaving while bending over.
In the Repentance Corner, a child would put his head through an opening in a stone contraption, then a wood block would wedge the child's head in place. Ed planned to sit and talk to the youngster for an hour or so, figuring this punishment would keep a child in line for several months. The taller of the two openings would be for his wife, should she disobey him.
Showing his kinder side, Ed made a playground based on ``Goldilocks and the Three Bears.'' There are beds and chairs for the bears and a heart-shaped chair for Goldilocks. A large porridge bowl lined with cement would serve as a punch bowl at the kids' parties.
Believing a man's home was his castle, Ed built a throne room. His throne, a rocking chair weighing 5,000 pounds, is accompanied by thrones for his wife and their children. He made a special throne for his mother-in-law. The only uncomfortable chair on the premises, Ed designed it that way to keep her visits short. It faces away from his throne.
The Throne Room is often used for weddings.
The Nine-Ton Gate is considered a monument to Ed's genius. Used as a turnstile to the yard beyond the courtyard wall, it was built to open with a touch of a finger. However, the gate is kept permanently open to prevent tourists from possibly being crushed.
Perhaps the most memorable feature of Coral Castle is the heart-shaped Feast of Love table. Ed made this 5,000-pound valentine for his love, planting a red ixora in the center. Castle employees say the original is still blooming.
CORAL CASTLE -- WHAT: historical home made of coral rock on a 10-acre site
-- HOURS: self-guided tours daily, with recorded information, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closes at 3 p.m. Thanksgiving and all day Christmas
-- WHERE: 28655 S. Dixie Highway, Homestead. From Tampa, take Interstate 75 south, then across Alligator Alley, to U.S. 27 and turn right. Follow it to State Road 997 and continue south to Southwest 288th Street. Turn left, pass U.S. 1 and continue to 157th Avenue (Newton Road), then turn left to the castle.
Or take U.S. 41 to Dade Corners, and turn right onto State Road 997. Then continue above directions.-- TICKETS: adults, $7.75; ages 62-70, $6.50; older than 70, free with paying adult; ages 7-12, $5; 6 and younger, free with paying adult. For more information, call (305) 248-6344.
