FORT MYERS, FL - EDISON AND FORD WINTER ESTATES

Sunday, February 1st to Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015

Day 181-183
Miles Traveled: 0
Total Miles Traveled: 2644


  Sunday we just relaxed at the dock.  We enjoyed a quiet evening watching the Super Bowl in the comfort of our "Seahorse" home.  


  Monday we spent walking around downtown Fort Myers checking out all the restaurant options for upcoming guests that will be arriving the next several weeks.  That evening we went out to dinner with Shirley and Larry.  Larry is the gentleman that Angie performed CPR on at the Fall Rendezvous.  He is doing well and they are back on The Loop and having a great time.  Angie had never officially met Larry so she was pleased that their paths finally crossed again.  


  No visit to Fort Myers would be complete without visiting the Edison and Ford Winter Estates.  Thursday we enjoyed the more than 20 acres of historical buildings, gardens, and museums.  The grounds and buildings are very well preserved and the historical information given is very well done.  For those Ohioans, both Thomas Edison and his second wife, Mina, hailed from Ohio cities, Milan and Akron respectively.  Mr. Edison was the only person granted a patent every year for 65 consecutive years.  Thomas Edison purchased his Fort Myers, FL estate in 1885 for $2,750.  The first structure built was the pier in order to receive building materials.  The winter home was completed in 1886 and named "Seminole Lodge". 

what remains of Edison's pier

Edison's winter home - "Seminole Lodge"

  In 1907, he proposed to the city that he plant Royal Palms along Riverside Avenue (now McGregor Blvd) from his home all the way into town.  The city agreed and still maintain these trees and has earned the name "City of Palms".  

Royal Palms lining McGregor Blvd

  Nine years later, Henry Ford purchased the home next to his friend and mentor.  He called it "The Mangoes" due to all the mango trees on the property. 

Ford's winter home - "The Mangoes"

  One of Edison's primary research focuses while he was in Fort Myers was trying to find a domestic source for rubber.  Edison, Ford, and Firestone formed the Edison Botanic Research Corporation (EBRC) in 1927.  On the grounds a Botanical Laboratory was built.  Over 17,000 plant samples were tested in this laboratory.  

EBRC Botanical Laboratory

  Edison planted hundreds of varieties of plants on his Fort Myers estate so he could study them.  In particular, this banyan tree, believed to be planted in the late 1920's, is now one of the largest in the continental United States with a canopy of almost an acre. Its circumference is 376 inches and height is 84 feet.

banyan tree - one of largest in US

  It is amazing how many contributions this duo, Edison and Ford, gave to us.  Fortunately, the state of Florida has been able to preserve this bit of history.  To learn more about these historic estates go to: http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/