Fort Myers: Where genius dwelledTwo of America's greatest minds, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, called Fort Myers home.
FORT MYERS -- Thomas Edison arrived in Fort Myers on March 20, 1885. Not one to be indecisive, evidently, he purchased 13-plus acres along the Caloosahatchee River within 24 hours, with the aim of building his winter home.
"Seminole Lodge" was duly built in pieces in Maine from his designs and then sailed to Florida and assembled. The home served as the winter retreat and workplace for the prolific inventor until his death in 1931. It's encircled with large overhanging porches, and grand French doors encourage a cross breeze. There are electric chandeliers "electroliers" designed by Edison. It's a fascinating house, donated to the city for $1 by Edison's widow, Mina.
Edison's close buddy Henry Ford was obviously smitten, too, upon his visit to Fort Myers in 1915. He bought the house next door. "The Mangoes" became another mecca for the country's elite - Harvey Firestone, naturalist John Burroughs, Nobel Laureate Alexis Carrel and Charles Lindbergh all made their way to this Florida paradise.
For ages it was essentially Fort Myers' biggest tourist destination, not as big league as Disney World but more glamorous than, say, Gatorland.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates raised $10-million in the past few years through a laudable public-private partnership, restoring the houses and grounds and repositioning the attraction as a community and cultural center.
The two estates encompass 14 acres of botanical landscaping, the two titans' historic homes and guest cottages, Edison's laboratory, a museum containing his famous inventions and exhibits, a museum store, a garden shop and an outdoor cafe. It's worth at least a couple hours of wandering through the gorgeous environs, but the real draw is peeking into the lives of these fascinating men.
Poke your head into the laboratory and the museum of Edison's inventions and artifacts, spend a little time in Ford's garage, then walk through the tropical botanical garden. Edison planted it as an experimental garden with more than 1,000 species, focusing on the byproducts of plants (rubber for his buddy Firestone's tires, for instance). Later, Mina Edison prettied it up by adding roses, orchids and bromeliads.
In the painstakingly restored houses (Edison's lab is slated to be restored next), the year 1929 was chosen as the "period of interpretation," the interiors accurately reflecting the decor and accouterments of that time. It's fun to mosey on your own with the electronic audio tour, but the staff-led tours are a must, giving the place context and depth.
You can dispel Edison myths (alas, the light bulbs burning in the estate are not Edison's originals), hear funny stories (Henry Ford stuffed the seats of his first Model T imprudently with local Spanish moss, which prompted the first automotive recall when little chiggers started crawling out and biting drivers on the butts), or just learn a little about the quirks of these American legends (Edison hated paparazzi, so he disembarked from the train before the station and walked the rest of the way).
The very young may be underwhelmed by all the Edison-Ford-obilia, but everybody feels a sense of awe when navigating the huge banyan tree out front. Its circumference spans more than 400 feet, making it one of the largest in the country, a gift to Thomas Edison from Firestone.
If You Go: Edison & Ford Winter Estates
2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; (239) 334-7419 or
www.edison-ford-estate.com.
Hours and fees: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Last guided tour leaves at 4 p.
m.Admission is $20 adults, $11 children 6-12, free for children 5 and younger. Botanical tours ($24 for adults, $10 for children ages 6 to 12) are at 9 a.m. Thursday and Saturday.
Directions: From Interstate 75, take Exit 136 and follow Florida 884 (Colonial Boulevard) west. After crossing Florida 41, move to the right lane. Large signs indicate McGregor Boulevard. Turn right onto McGregor and travel about 2 miles;entrance is on the right.
