Edison Ford Winter Estates In Fort Myers, Florida

The Edison Ford Winter Estate homes in Fort Myers, Florida are situated along Caloosahatchee River, and are considered a historical treasure. These estates draw thousands of visitors each year, who seek a glimpse inside the private world of one of Americas greatest inventors and the founding father of automobiles. Thomas Edison brought us the film projector, electricity, and the light bulb, among his more popular of 1,009 inventions. While Henry Ford, was the father of the modern assembly line and founder of the Ford Motor Company.

In 1885, Thomas Edison first visited Florida and purchased 14 acres of land along the river, and proceeded to build a vacation home. The home was designed entirely by Edison, built in Maine, and sections were transported to Fort Myers piece by piece, on schooners. Edison's creative genius can be witnessed all over the house, from the large overhanging porches to the electric brass chandeliers, which Edison designed in his own workshop. In the earlier 1900's, Edison built a swimming pool, one of the first in Florida, with cement from his own Edison Portland Cement Company.

The Edison Estate also boasts one of the most extensive tropical botanical gardens in America, it has over one thousand varieties of plants and trees from all over the world. It includes African sausage trees and a Banyan tree which he was given by Harvey Firestone, in 1925. It was originally an experimental garden, Edison used many of the plants in his scientific experiments. Later, Mrs. Edison added roses, orchids and bromeliads.

In 1915, Edison and his wife invited their friends, Mr. And Mrs. Henry Ford , to be guests in their home. Henry Ford loved the area so much that in 1916, he purchased the property right next door. For the next 15 years the friends enjoyed the tradition of gathering in Fort Myers, Florida to enjoy the winters together.

In 1947, Mrs. Edison donated "Seminole House'', to the City of Fort Myers, Florida. Public tours of the home began later that year. While the Ford Home, "Mangoes'', was purchased by the city in 1988 and opened for public tours in 1990. In 2003, the new non-profit group Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates, took control of the property from the city and made improvements to the amount of $10 million to both properties. The property is still open and welcomes thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.