American Folk Figure. When he was 26, he wanted to marry a girl whom he called his "sweet sixteen" (Agnes Scuffs). The night before their wedding, she called it off saying he was too old for her. Later, he would also find out she felt he didn't have enough money either. Heartbroken, he moved to Canada, California, and Texas. Then he moved to Florida for his health. While in Florida, he constructed, on his own, "Coral Castle" which was made up entirely of coral rock weighing 1,100 tons. What makes this unusual, is that Ed Leedskalnin was barely over 5 feet tall and weighed 100 pounds. He did this as a tribute to his "sweet sixteen". He started this tribute in Florida City, Florida, then moved it to Homestead, Florida. Many people saw the coral carvings being moved between these two places on his modified truck, but no one actually ever saw Ed loading or unloading the trailer. If anyone ever questioned him about how he moved these heavy blocks of coral, he would only reply that he understood the laws of weight and leverage well. Urban stories about his accomplishments attributed them to levitation, or that he knew the secrets of the ancient Egyptians who built the pyramids. Through his determination, Coral Castle still stands as a monument to his efforts.
American Folk Figure. When he was 26, he wanted to marry a girl whom he called his "sweet sixteen" (Agnes Scuffs). The night before their wedding, she called it off saying he was too old for her. Later, he would also find out she felt he didn't have enough money either. Heartbroken, he moved to Canada, California, and Texas. Then he moved to Florida for his health. While in Florida, he constructed, on his own, "Coral Castle" which was made up entirely of coral rock weighing 1,100 tons. What makes this unusual, is that Ed Leedskalnin was barely over 5 feet tall and weighed 100 pounds. He did this as a tribute to his "sweet sixteen". He started this tribute in Florida City, Florida, then moved it to Homestead, Florida. Many people saw the coral carvings being moved between these two places on his modified truck, but no one actually ever saw Ed loading or unloading the trailer. If anyone ever questioned him about how he moved these heavy blocks of coral, he would only reply that he understood the laws of weight and leverage well. Urban stories about his accomplishments attributed them to levitation, or that he knew the secrets of the ancient Egyptians who built the pyramids. Through his determination, Coral Castle still stands as a monument to his efforts.
Bio by: GuyB
Inscription
EDWARD LEEDSKALNIN
1887 1951
BORN IN LATVIA
CREATOR OF CORAL CASTLE
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