“I have discovered the secrets of the pyramids, and have found out how the Egyptians and the ancient builders in Peru, Yucatan, and Asia, with only primitive tools, raised and set in place blocks of stone weighing many tons!” So said Latvian immigrant, Edward Leedskalnin with only a fourth-grade education.

Did this eccentric recluse discover the secrets of levitation and anti-gravity, or did he merely discover or rediscover the secret to engineering? Whatever the answer, Edward Leedskalnin did prove that he possessed unexplained skills by building Coral Castle in Homestead, Florida, by hand and alone.

Coral Castle has been linked in importance to the greatest engineering feats in the world: the Pyraminds of Giza, Aztec monuments, Stonehenge and others. One question however, persists: How did he do it?

Edward Leedskalnin

According to Edward Leedskalnin, he was jilted by his 16-year-old fiancée Agnes Scuffs in Latvia, just one day before the wedding. Leaving for America, he came down with terminal tuberculosis but spontaneously healed, stating that magnets had some effect on his disease.

Hoping to impress his ex-fiancée, he embarked on an ambitious scheme to build Coral Castle. He spent over 28 years building the structure alone in secret, refusing to allow anyone to see him work. Unfortunately all this work did not have the intended effect – he died unmarried.

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Leedskalnin originally built the castle, which he named Rock Gate Park, in Florida City, FL around 1923. In 1936 however, he moved to Homestead – along with the entire castle. No-one knows the exact reason why he decided to move, but it often said that he wanted to protect his privacy when discussion about developing land in the area of the castle started. Another rumour was that he left after being badly beaten by a group of hooligans looking to rob him.

Leedskalnin worked constantly on his castle until his death in 1951. During that time he would raise money by charging tourists ten cents a head for the grand tour. There are signs carved into rocks at the front gate to “Ring Bell Twice” and a second sign just inside the property that says “Adm. 10c Drop Below”. He would come down from his living quarters which were the second story of the castle tower and are close to the gate and conduct the tour.
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“I have discovered the secrets of the pyramids, and have found out how the Egyptians and the ancient builders in Peru, Yucatan, and Asia, with only primitive tools, raised and set in place blocks of stone weighing many tons!” So said Latvian immigrant, Edward Leedskalnin with only a fourth-grade education.

Did this eccentric recluse discover the secrets of levitation and anti-gravity, or did he merely discover or rediscover the secret to engineering? Whatever the answer, Edward Leedskalnin did prove that he possessed unexplained skills by building Coral Castle in Homestead, Florida, by hand and alone.

Coral Castle has been linked in importance to the greatest engineering feats in the world: the Pyraminds of Giza, Aztec monuments, Stonehenge and others. One question however, persists: How did he do it?

Edward Leedskalnin

According to Edward Leedskalnin, he was jilted by his 16-year-old fiancée Agnes Scuffs in Latvia, just one day before the wedding. Leaving for America, he came down with terminal tuberculosis but spontaneously healed, stating that magnets had some effect on his disease.

Hoping to impress his ex-fiancée, he embarked on an ambitious scheme to build Coral Castle. He spent over 28 years building the structure alone in secret, refusing to allow anyone to see him work. Unfortunately all this work did not have the intended effect – he died unmarried.

[ad]
Leedskalnin originally built the castle, which he named Rock Gate Park, in Florida City, FL around 1923. In 1936 however, he moved to Homestead – along with the entire castle. No-one knows the exact reason why he decided to move, but it often said that he wanted to protect his privacy when discussion about developing land in the area of the castle started. Another rumour was that he left after being badly beaten by a group of hooligans looking to rob him.

Leedskalnin worked constantly on his castle until his death in 1951. During that time he would raise money by charging tourists ten cents a head for the grand tour. There are signs carved into rocks at the front gate to “Ring Bell Twice” and a second sign just inside the property that says “Adm. 10c Drop Below”. He would come down from his living quarters which were the second story of the castle tower and are close to the gate and conduct the tour.
(more…)

Historical accounts of individuals who apparently prophesied the precise moment of their deaths.

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