Fort Myers in southwest Florida has long been a favored destination of northerners looking to escape the cold winter months.
In fact, one of America’s most innovative and famous inventors, Thomas Alva Edison, first arrived in Fort Myers in 1885 to do just that.
Like many a snowbird, his temporary wanderlust and desire to escape the northern cold turned into a lifelong love affair that lasted nearly fifty winter seasons.
Edison left behind a rich legacy in The City of Palms, including his former estate, research lab and a display of early vehicles gifted to him by his good friend and colleague, Henry Ford.
Today, the Edison winter home and the adjacent Ford estate are two of the city’s most popular attractions and a visit here is one of the most unique things to do in Fort Myers.
You don’t have to be a history buff to appreciate the scope of the property now split in two by McGregor Boulevard lined with towering Royal palm trees on either side.
The riverside setting is lovely as well, with the homes backdropped by the beautiful Caloosahatchee River and the surrounding property featuring pretty gardens, native flora, and a garden center to indulge your inner gardener.
If you’re heading to southwest Florida, a visit to the Edison home is a fun and educational day trip from Naples, and a great way to get to know the Fort Myers area.
Where To Stay in Fort Myers
Luminary Hotel & Co., Autograph Collection
The Luminary is one of Fort Myers’ most popular hotels, with good reason. It’s close to everything in the River District, has great views, comfortable rooms, a splurge-worthy spa and restaurant. Even their continental breakfast is delicious, and make this a perfect place to stay short or long term.
Click for availability and more details.
The Hibiscus House of Fort Myers
If you prefer a charming B&B setting, this one is a must stay. Hibiscus House is close to restaurants and shopping and consistently rated as one of the best in the area. They book up quickly so reserve well ahead.
Click for details and availability.
Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers
If you’re minding your budget, this hotel has a great location, spacious rooms, a beautiful pool and deck area, and is close to most of Fort Myers points of interest.
This is a popular hotel so click to see availability and reserve early.
19th Century Fort Myers History
Unbeknownst to many, what is now Fort Myers was once occupied for centuries by the native Caloosa and later by the Seminole.
During the American Civil War, Fort Myers served as a remote Confederate garrison which, with the heat and humidity, had to have been a really terrible duty station.
After the war ended the garrison became a center for trade with local Seminole tribes who traded animal hides for tobacco, gunpowder, beads, and cooking pots.
In 1885 when Edison first visited the area, Fort Myers had a population of just 349 people. It’s hard to imagine!
There were only a few dirt roads and, being surrounded by the dense vegetation of the Everglades, the only way to reach the small village was by boat on the Caloosahatchee River or by a cattle trail.
Even so, by 1887 — 2 years after he first arrived — Edison lighted his home with 13 “electroliers” (his chandeliers) using a steam powered dynamo, 11 years before electric power ever came to Fort Myers.
It is reported that all 349 residents turned out to marvel at the electric lights. There obviously wasn’t a lot to do after sundown, and in those days it must have quite a special event for everyone!
Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Hours: The estates are open daily from 9am to 5:30pm. The last ticket is sold at 4:30 pm daily, and the site closes at 5:30 pm.
Tours
Self-Guided Tours
You are certainly free to tour the property on your own but there are some restrictions on what parts of the property require being with a guide.
Cost: Adults $25, Teens $20 (ages 13-19), Children $15 (ages 6-12), Children FREE (ages 5 and under)
Guided Tours
To truly appreciate the estates, a guided tour with a historian is the way to go. Guided tours include “Inside-the-Homes” tours, “Inside-the-Lab” tours, and Garden tours. Guided tours are $30 for adults and less for teens and children.
Cost: Adults $30, Teens $25 (ages 13-19), Children $18 (ages 6-12), Children FREE (ages 5 and under)
The Original Property and Pier
As it turned out, Edison liked Fort Myers so much that on his very first visit in 1885 he purchased over 13 acres of land along the Caloosahatchee River for $2750. That was a pretty large sum at the time, and more than he should have paid.
Up to that time the parcel had been used by cattle ranchers as a resting stopover for their cattle, but Edison was intent and that amount would prove to be a bargain over the years.
The following year he returned with his new wife, Mina Miller Edison, and he began construction of the house that was to become forever known as Seminole Lodge.
Mina loved the property, which became a creative outlet for her love of gardening. Today, there are so many lovely and Instagrammable settings to explore!
There wasn’t much to choose from in the way of materials. The only lumber available for the house at the time was white spruce and cedar.
He wanted the house to be perfect so he had all the lumber for the house pre-cut by two firms in Fairfield, Maine and sent down on a barge from Cedar Key to the property. This must have been enormously expensive.
Shortly after constructing the house, Edison realized that the Caloosahatchee River was quite shallow making it difficult for boats with supplies and more building materials to reach the shore.
Not a problem for Edison. He had a pier built into the river in front of the home which reached 1500 feet and had a small summer house built at the end.
That’s over four football fields long!
Having a pier jutting that far into the river also allowed Edison to pursue his favorite leisurely pastime - fishing.
Today only pilings extend out into the river to mark where the loading dock originally stood. When you gaze out into the river it seems that the pier goes on forever.
Inside the main home, with many surviving artworks and original furnishings, the Edison house is the centerpiece of the estate which would eventually grow over time to 20 acres.
It makes you wonder as you peer through the open windows and doors, how this level of opulence was even sustainable at the time in the hot and humid climate of Southwest Florida.
Edison’s Friendships with Ford and Firestone
Like Edison, Henry Ford grew to love the area after several visits with his friend, and eventually he too purchased an estate on the river, right next door to Edison.
Edison and Ford became life long friends from their early days after they met at a conference in 1896. Over the years they developed a friendship that would endure through exchanges of ideas and their personal and professional lives.
They traveled together, visited one another, went camping, and celebrated birthdays together.
And while others were skeptical, Edison encouraged Ford in the development of his automobiles.
We especially loved seeing the photos of them together during our tour — two titans of industry and innovation just casually hanging out.
In 1914, Ford and his wife Clara visited the Edisons in Fort Myers at their winter estate and fell in love with the setting on the Caloosahatchee.
In fact, Henry Ford was so taken with the area and property that in 1916 he purchased the bungalow next to the Edison estate and eventually added two wings to the home.
The house of the Ford Estate, built in the Craftsman style, became known as “The Mangoes”. While the workmanship is striking to this day, the home’s design is much less grand and charming than the Edison home.
“The Mangoes” is cozy, with warm dark woods and a cottage-y feel, and must have offered the Fords a place of refuge and relaxation.
It reminded me of the summer lake cottages that we love in Maine.
Another interesting friendship that you’ll learn about on a tour is that of Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone.
The two met in 1897 while Ford was working on a “horseless carriage” and Firestone was developing air-filled rubber tires.
Ford soon realized that Firestone’s tires were far superior to his rough-riding solid rubber tires of the day, and through a mutually advantageous business arrangement, a close friendship evolved.
Later, while on a camping trip, Ford introduced Edison to Firestone and thus began their friendship.
It’s amazing what these three men were able to achieve through their friendship — revolutionary ideas that changed the world!
Their mutual scientific curiosities and inventive spirit bonded them as friends, and together with naturalist John Burroughs, they made camping an annual event and called themselves “the vagabonds”.
I would’ve loved to have been a mouse nearby and listening as they chatted around a campfire.
Who knows what awesome ideas they dreamed of doing that were never achieved.
The Edison Museum Today
Seminole Lodge
The Edison family enjoyed the winter months at Seminole Lodge, the main house, for 60 years.
Almost all of the furnishings and artwork are original to the Edison family.
The home is an amazing period structure and the furniture certainly doesn’t look like the Florida furniture of today.
Everything — the materials and colors — all look like they belong in a much cooler climate.
The house also has no kitchen or formal dining room.
In 1906, Edison had the kitchen and dining rooms moved to the guest house. No doubt this was his way of avoiding too much socializing which it’s rumored he wasn’t very fond of.
Besides, who doesn’t want a separate kitchen and dining room when there’s no air conditioning!
Without the kitchen and dining rooms, the empty spaces in Seminole Lodge were then converted into bedroom suites.
The house also includes a library, a study, bedrooms, Edison’s den, and for lighting the ever present brass electroliers, invented by Edison, which hang from the ceilings in the rooms.
Guest House
Next door to the main house is the guest house which was built using the same pre-cut method as the main house.
Edison had the architect design the house in a mirror image of the main house only a bit smaller, and had it positioned so that the front and rear of both homes were facing in opposite directions.
One of the most obvious differences between the two is the size of the porches. The guest house porch is not nearly as wide as the fourteen feet wide porch of Seminole Lodge.
Thomas Edison passed away last in 1931, and his wife Mina eventually deeded the entire estate to the city of Fort Myers in 1947.
The Mangoes
Henry Ford’s winter estate, named “The Mangoes”, is a beautiful period home built in 1911 with elegant woodwork and complimentary furniture.
This two story home, the Ford winter estate, is just steps away from Edison’s estate, and was purchased by Ford in 1916.
In 1945 the Ford family sold the home to a private family, and in the late 1980s that family sold the home to the City of Fort Myers.
Luckily for visitors, the Ford Winter Estate has been open to the public since 1990. Make sure you spend time exploring the home. The furnishings and warm woodwork are cottage-like but very elegant.
Caretaker’s Cottage
When Edison purchased the property in 1885, this structure was already on the property.
The Caretaker’s House, one of the oldest buildings in Fort Myers, was built as a “cracker” style house, a simple wooden framed structure of the time that was used as a shelter by cattlemen driving their herds south.
Edison enlarged the small house by adding a kitchen, a three car garage, and living space for a chauffeur.
It was used year round by the estate’s caretakers to make sure the buildings and gardens were well cared for especially during hurricane season.
Swimming Pool Complex
Hard to believe, but in 1910 Edison had a large swimming pool built on the estate, one of the first in Fort Myers. He had numerous cement patents, and the 50 feet by 20 feet pool may have been constructed using Edison Portland Cement. No one is quite sure.
In 1928, a pool house was added along with changing rooms and a shower, and much to Mina Edison’s delight, a Tea House was added lending a bit of elegance to the pool area. This is a very cool and no doubt welcome addition when you consider how hot and sticky it can get, even in the winter and spring.
Part of the complex was a cement cistern Edison built in 1919 to catch rainwater from the roof of Seminole Lodge.
Edison’s Study
Directly behind the Moonlight Garden is Edison’s private study. Henry Ford had Edison’s original electric laboratory that was on the estate moved to his, Ford’s, museum located on the grounds of Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.
In 1928 Ford then had this separate small building built for Edison to be used as his personal study.
It’s actually quite cozy with its fireplace and warm wooden wainscoting walls — the kind of private place where a creative person could go to be alone with their thoughts, or just sit and relax.
Gardens
Mina Edison was, to say the least, an avid gardener. She belonged to several garden clubs in the area and hosted annual formal garden events in the 20 acre Edison Estate gardens.
The property is home to over 1,700 plants from six continents. But not just ornamental plants. There are trees and flowers as well, all nicely arranged on the property.
Ficus trees which still stand (although Hurricane Ian caused the loss of many trees on the estate) and extensive research gardens were planted by Edison, Ford, and Firestone in an effort to find plants that could be used to produce rubber quickly in the US versus relying on foreign production.
Moonlight Garden
This is the largest formal garden on the estate. Designed in 1929 the garden features fragrant night blooming flowers, bromeliads, and lush greenery.
Imagine a balmy southwest Florida night and the air filled with the sweet fragrances of nighttime flowers. That is exactly what Mina wanted.
Unfortunately our visit was at a time of year when flowering plants had yet to bloom, but it was still very lush and green as southwest Florida is. But oh, to experience it under the moon when fragrances fill the air!
The garden was made even more transcendent by the addition of a rectangular pond in the center of the garden designed to reflect moonlight. With no ambient light it must have been mesmerizing.
The Banyan Tree
This amazing tree was planted in the late 1920s which means it’s nearly one hundred years old. It now covers three quarters of an acre and is second in size only to a banyan tree in Hawaii which covers over an acre.
Staring in and through it is mind-boggling. You won’t be able to stop trying to figure out where it starts and where it’s going. It’s one of Mother Nature’s little tricks.
Butterfly Garden
Close to the Garden Shoppe, where you can purchase butterfly attracting plants, is the Butterfly Garden.
With her gardening expertise, Mina Edison knew how important butterflies and bees were for pollinating not just flowers but all sorts of plants. So she established this garden to enjoy her flowering plants and the visiting butterflies.
Edison Botanic Research Laboratory
In 1927, Edison, Ford, and Firestone formed the Edison Botanic Research Corporation.
The following year they built this laboratory in order to search for a domestic source of rubber that could be produced quickly.
To this end over 17,000 plants were tested.
Edison finally found that golden rod was the best for what they wanted to accomplish.
The lab remained in operation until 1936, and was unique at the time, having water, natural gas, and electricity.
Today, the tables and shelves are still covered with test tubes, bunsen burners, beakers and all sizes of glass bottles as if Edison might walk in at any moment.
There’s also a machine shop, a dark room, office, and a chemical processing area - all in their original state.
If you’re a science geek, this may be the best part of your tour. It appears as if it’s still operational, as if the researchers went to lunch and would be back in thirty minutes.
The Edison Botanic Research Laboratory was designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 2014 and is a fascinating place to visit. Don’t miss it.
Museum
The Edison Ford Museum is an extraordinary museum of 15,000 square feet of exhibits and literally thousands of artifacts.
It’s something that every visitor should experience, and plan on spending some time.
It’s absolutely fascinating to see how prolific Edison was. At seeing some of these items I couldn’t stop wondering, “what was he thinking?”
On display of course are Edison’s most famous projects along with the research that went into inventing the electriclight and the phonograph.
For Ford’s part, there are several of his early automobiles on display showing the evolution of his inventions.
Two notable displays are Edison’s 1916 Model T Ford which was a birthday gift to him from Ford, a hallmark of their lasting friendship. And Ford’s original “pick up truck” - be sure and inquire how it got its name!
Host Your Event
The Pavilion, Lawn, and an area along the river are available for weddings, receptions, photo sessions, and special events. Reserve well in advance by contacting the Edison and Ford Events Department, 239-334-7419.
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers is a large slice of historic Americana.
It’s a great place to spend part of the day learning about these pioneering men and their lives. There’s plenty for kids and adults alike.
Next time you visit Fort Myers make sure to put it on your list.
If You Go
2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Hours: The estates are open daily from 9am to 5:30pm. The last ticket is sold at 4:30 pm daily, and the site closes at 5:30 pm.
Self-Guided Tour Cost: Adults $25, Teens $20 (ages 13-19), Children $15 (ages 6-12), Children FREE (ages 5 and under)
To truly appreciate the estates, a guided tour with a historian is the way to go. Guided tours include “Inside-the-Homes” tours, “Inside-the-Lab” tours, and Garden tours. Guided tours are $30 for adults and less for teens and children.
Guided Tour Cost: Adults $30, Teens $25 (ages 13-19), Children $18 (ages 6-12), Children FREE (ages 5 and under)
Day Trips, Things to Do
Angelo Sorrentino
Fort Myers, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Edison and Ford Winter Estates, family fun with kids, day trips
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