Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
In 1886, inventor Thomas Edison purchased land along the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers and constructed a winter home dubbed Seminole Lodge where he and his wife Mina wintered until the inventor’s death in 1931. Wanting to spend the winters with the Edison's, their friends Henry Ford and his wife Clara purchased the adjacent property in 1915 and built a bungalow-style house naming it The Mangoes.
Today, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates features over 20 acres of lush botanical gardens boasting over 1, 700 plants and one of the largest Banyan trees in the U.S. Visitors can explore nine historic buildings including Henry Ford’s home and Thomas Edison’s main house, guest house, caretaker’s house, the ahead of its time pool complex and the pier built to deliver materials for construction. Also unique to the estate is Edison’s Botanic Research Laboratory which was built for researching a domestic source for organic rubber and is now filled with the actual equipment Edison used to conduct his research. A 15,000 square foot air-conditioned museum displays some of Edison’s inventions, artifacts and exhibits as well as a Model-T Ford which was a gift from Henry Ford. Costumed actors portraying the Edison’s, the Ford’s and their friends can be found milling about, give visitors a glimpse into how the these wealthy residents lived during that time period. There are a wide range of tour options available to experience the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
Be sure to stop by the Museum Store or Garden Shoppe and bring home something from your visit. Edison & Ford Winter Estates is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
