The the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida is located along the Caloosahatchee River. The Estates was awarded the 2009 National Trust for Historic Preservation Award and is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. The architecture and furnishings of these gracious, buildings are reminiscent of a bygone era. However there are many innovations which we do not have in the most modern of homes. In the early 1900s, Edison built one of Florida's first modern swimming pools with cement from his own Edison Portland Cement Company. Edison used the water from an artesian well to fill the pool and irrigate the botanical gardens and it still holds water today.
The close friendship between Thomas Edison and Henry Ford brought the Ford's to Fort Myers in 1915 as guests in the Edison's home. The following year, Mr. Ford purchased the house next door to his good friend Thomas Edison. For years, the Fords came to their home in Fort Myers every winter to spend time with the Edisons. They shared their families homes, friends and well known guests such as Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs. On the Estate is an artifact museum, dedicated by Charles Edison, son of the inventor. The museum was built to preserve and house memorabilia related to Thomas Edison's life. One of the many educational displays in the museum is Edison's unique Model T Ford, a prototype model presented to Edison by his friend, Henry Ford. "Mangoes," the Ford's home was purchased by the City of Fort Myers in 1988 and was opened for public tours in 1990. In 1947 Mina Edison, wife of the legendary inventor Thomas Edison, donated the estate to the City of Fort Myers and in November of that year, public touring of the estate began. Mina Edison enjoyed entertaining throughout the gardens of her Florida Estate. She was a gracious hostess and interested in the well being of children and the community following in this tradition, Etiquette at the Estates, is a series of lessons offered today at the Estate.
The Edison and Ford Estate is filled with beach house finds and educational delight for adults and children of every generation. The President's budget proposes to eliminate funding for key historic preservation programs such as Save America's Treasures and Preserve America and reduce funding for National Heritage Areas by half. We American's need to fight to keep to send a message to your members of Congress asking them to support restoration of funding for Save America's Treasures and other critical preservation programs. Take action
Beach House Finds is asking for your help in restoring vital historic preservation programs proposed for elimination or cuts in the President's FY 2011 Budget Request. Support Historical Preservation
The Edison and Ford Estates is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Photo Credit: About.com
