The Edison-Ford Winter Estates
The Edison Ford Winter
Estates is one of the greatest historic treasures within Lee County.
Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio.
Because of poor health, Edison spent his winters in Fort Myers,
Florida. There, in 1885, he purchased 14 acres of land on the
south side of
the Caloosahatchee River and built a beautiful home complete
with a laboratory and botanical gardens. In 1896 Edison became
friends
with Henry Ford. Ford would visit during the winters and in 1916,
bought his own property next to Edison.
Thomas Edison died October 18, 1931 at 84 years old. He is credited
with holding 1,093 patents and holds the record as being the
only person in our country ever to have a patent granted every
year
for sixty-five consecutive years, 1868 to 1933.
The Edison-Ford Winter Estates offer year round guided tours
through the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The
museum includes such displays as the original Model T Ford as
given to him
by his friend, Henry Ford. Also on display is a collection of
over 200 Edison phonographs. The laboratory is home to where
Edison conducted
many of his last major experiments and was kept just as he left
it. Edison's tropical botanical garden, one of the most complete
in America,
contains more than a thousand varieties of plants imported from
all over the world.
In addition to a tour of the home, the estates offers a river
cruise down the Caloosahatchee River on a replica of the "Reliance",
Edison's electric launch.Outdoor site rental of the historic
winter residence of legendary automobile maker, Henry Ford, may
be rented
for weddings and corporate functions.
Edison Ford Winter Estate
2350 McGregor Blvd.
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
(239) 334-7419
www.efwefla.org
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