Edison and Ford Winter Estates Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Thomas Edison Winter Estate and Henry Ford Estate
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Seminole Lodge, the Edison family's winter home
Location	Fort Myers, Florida
Built	1886 (Edison Estate) 1911 (Ford Estate)
Website	http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org
NRHP reference No.	91001044
Added to NRHP	September 8, 1988 (Ford Estate) August 12, 1991 (Edison Estate)

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates are a cool historical museum and a huge 21-acre (8.5 ha) botanical garden. They are located right next to the winter homes of two famous inventors, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. You can find them by the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida.

In 2012, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates were named one of "Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places" by the American Institute of Architects. Also, in 2014, the American Chemical Society called Edison's research lab here a National Historic Chemical Landmark. This means it's a really important place for science history!

History of the Estates
Amazing Gardens
Edison's Rubber Lab
Visiting the Estates
Gallery
See also

History of the Estates

The story of these estates began in 1885. That's when Thomas Edison first visited Southwest Florida. He bought the land to build a vacation home. Edison had been sick, and his doctor suggested the warm Florida weather would help him get better. After feeling better in St. Augustine, he traveled to Fort Myers.

His home, called "Seminole Lodge," was finished in 1886. It was his special winter getaway until he passed away in 1931. Later, Edison's good friend, Henry Ford, bought the property next door in 1916. Ford's home, "The Mangoes," was built in 1911.

In 1947, Edison's wife, Mina Edison, gave their property to the City of Fort Myers. She wanted everyone to be able to enjoy it. It opened for public tours soon after. In 1988, Henry Ford's winter home was also bought and opened for tours in 1990.

Later, a new non-profit group took over running the estates. They worked hard to restore the site, spending $14 million to make sure everything looked its best.

Amazing Gardens

Gardens

Edison's botanical garden is home to over a thousand different kinds of plants. These plants come from all over the world! You can see interesting ones like African Sausage Trees. There's also a giant banyan tree that's about 400 feet (120 meters) wide. It was planted in the 1920s.

The gardens have plants that were grown for science and industry. For example, bamboo was used in Edison's light bulb experiments. Mina Edison also planted many beautiful flowers. These include roses, orchids, and bromeliads. The lovely Moonlight Garden was designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman.

Edison's Rubber Lab

During World War I (1914–1918), Thomas Edison worried about America needing rubber from other countries. He teamed up with Harvey Firestone and Henry Ford. They wanted to find a plant that could grow fast in the United States and provide rubber.

In 1927, these three friends each put in $25,000. They started the Edison Botanic Research Corporation. Their goal was to find a solution to the rubber problem. In 1928, the special laboratory for this research was built in Fort Myers. This is where Edison did most of his plant research and experiments.

Edison tested over 17,000 different plant samples! He finally found a good source of rubber in a type of flowering goldenrod plant. Thomas Edison passed away in 1931. Five years later, the rubber project was moved to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Visiting the Estates

Ford's winter bungalow

When you visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, you can explore more than 20 acres of historic buildings and beautiful gardens. You can also see the 1928 Botanical Laboratory and the Edison Ford Museum. There are many fun programs, tours, and activities to enjoy.

The estates offer special tours for schools and educational programs for all ages. They have a summer camp and science classes for students learning at home. There are even "emerging inventors" programs for younger children. You can also find special events like holiday nights and antique car shows.

The Edison Ford Winter Estates are a very important historical site. They have won awards for their restoration work. They are also recognized as a National Historical Chemical Landmark.

If you love history, you can even make an appointment to visit their research library. It has many books about Fort Myers history, plants, and the lives of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.

The estates have been open to the public since 1947. Over 200,000 people visit each year! It's a non-profit organization run by a board of trustees, staff, and many helpful volunteers.