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Coral Castle
From 1920 to 1940, Edward Leedskalnin built this unusual
monument, reportedly after being jilted by a 16-year old
love back home in Latvia. Coral Castle is made from 1,100
tons of coral rock that was carved into various shapes,
though it is somewhat a mystery exactly how this was possible.
Engineers and scientists have been stumped. The Castle
walls and gates surround the carvings of furniture, creating
a sort of “roofless” castle. The Castle has
been shown on TV’s “That’s Incredible”
and others. 25-minute audio tour guides are available
in English, Spanish, French and German. |
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Domino Park
Domino Park resides in one of the predominantly
Cuban districts of the greater Miami area. It is located
on the corner of Calle Ocho and fifteenth-avenue in Little
Havana. Domino Park is a gathering place for the men and
women of Little Havana. They have congregated in the mini-park
for years, challenging each other to domino games. Although
players sometimes choose to challenge each other to games
of chess, the main staple of the park is dominos. The
park received its nickname, Domino Park, for that very
reason. Before the construction of Domino Park, which
occurred in 1976, the men of Little Havana played dominos
on the corner of fifteenth-avenue. They would sit directly
across from the Tower Theater and played well into the
night. Originally, the players used shaky tables and a
rigged, lighting system. The city of Miami spent $115,000
to build the park's magnificent architecture.
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Fairchild
Fairchild Tropical Gardens is an 83-acre botanical garden
established in 1938. It includes an extensive collection
of rare tropical plants. David Fairchild was a great plant
explorer who retired to Miami in 1935. His friend Robert
Montgomery founded the gardens in 1938 and named them
after David Fairchild, who had shared his tropical plant
knowledge with Robert. The Gardens were accredited by
the American Association of Museums in 1981. The collection
is one of the largest in the U.S. and includes a countless
number of trees and plants, including 550 species of palm
trees. The area includes 11 lakes and you’ll also
spot many different species of birds. An interesting narrated
tram tour is offered. In addition, there is a museum,
gift shop, picnic area and café. |
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