April 28 – Biggest Sand Castle in the World!

Posted on April 28, 2016

A sandcastle four stories tall! Yi-i-ikes!

On this date in 1985, the world's record for largest sand castle in the world was set in Treasure Island, Florida.

It looks like a sand village to me, rather than a mere castle:

Called Bluebeard's Castle, the sand sculpture was 37 feet high and comprised some four THOUSAND tons of sand. It cost the town $25,000 to hire a famous professional sand sculptor, and it took 12 workers plus 500 volunteers 12 days to make. But the payoff was spectacular – the sand castle attracted 150,000 sightseers and lots of coverage in the media in its first weekend alone.

Notice that I used past tense – like other sand sculptures, of course Bluebeard's Castle was temporary. And the world's record, too, fell. But what Treasure Island started has become a thing – the city has been promoting sand sculpture events ever since. It is called the Sand Sculpture Capital of Florida, and it is the home of “Sanding Ovations,” a company that sculpts sand around the world.

I gather that the record for the tallest sandcastle is now set at 45 feet, 10.25

inches.

And the tallest sand sculpture is an astounding 73 feet, 7 inches!

There are lots of cool sand castles built every year. I love this one:

I've always liked making drip sand castles like this:

But some people use sticks and fishing line to make drip sand castles that seem to defy gravity!

In many places in the world, the beach is a bit cold for going in the water. But maybe not for a little architectural fun...using sand!

Also on this date:

National Heroes Day in Barbados 

Biological Clock Day

Anniversary of Maryland's statehood

Anniversary of the publication of Sir Isaac Newton's Principia

Astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort's birthday

Planetary geologist Eugene M. Shoemaker's birthday

Astronomer Francis Baily's birthday

Poem in Your Pocket Day 

Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest boards for:

• April holidays
• April birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in April

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

• May holidays
• May birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in May