This was once a coral reef when the seas around the Florida Keys were much higher. When the water receded, the Keys were born. Henry Flagler went to the Keys to build a railroad to Key West. They found this coral reef and took slabs of it for building. They discovered fossils. The beauty of it caused them to use it for building structures, such as the Coral Gables City Hall. The red portion you see is dust from the Saharan Desert.
That's pretty awesome...and a tale of waters that rose and receded as we've come to expect they'll do cyclically! We had a friend who moved to Flagler Beach...now I know where the place got its name!
@Weezilou Henry Flagler is credited for "creating" Palm Beach and Miami. He first was in St. Augustine and created a most beautiful hotel, which is now Flagler College. I read the other day it is one of the 5 prettiest college campuses in the country. He then built a railroad (Florida East Coast Railroad). He expanded his empire to Palm Beach where he built a magnificent hotel now known at The Breakers (a 5-star hotel). He then decided to go to Key West. They almost named Miami, "Flagler" but he didn't want them to. He also had a fabulous home in Palm Beach, which he gave to his third wife as a wedding present. Without him, Florida wouldn't be what it is today. Part of his railroad system to Key West is still in place as a pedestrian bridge. What a feat for back then! Your friends don't live too far south of St. Augustine. Hopefully, you will get there one day.
