Historical Edison, Ford homes in Fort Myers
By Jean Allen
Sun-Sentinel
Important: This article was last updated on February 7, 2005. Please call ahead to confirm hours, prices, dates and other information.
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The Edison House, located in Fort Myers, is where the inventor spent working vacations from 1886 until his death in 1931. As the guide will tell you, this is where Edison perfected the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, the motion picture camera and the storage battery.
He also cultivated a tropical garden that's included in the daily tours. And don't miss seeing the enormous banyan tree on the grounds that was given to Edison by Harvey Firestone in 1925.
Automotive pioneer Henry Ford's winter estate also is located next door and both homes are included in guided tours that begin at 9 a.m. with the last one at 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Ford's restored home is furnished in the style of the 1920s, based on photographs and records of the house. Ford bought the place in 1916 because it was near the home of his friend, Edison.
This would be a busy day trip -- across Interstate 75 would be the fastest way -- or you could stay over and visit other Fort Myers places plus the two resort islands, Sanibel and Captiva, with beaches famous for their seashells. For specific information on the area, go to www.fortmyers-sanibel.com or call 800-237-6444 and order a free visitor's guide.
Coming or going, consider sidetracking to see Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, now celebrating its 50th anniversary as a place dedicated to preserving the nation's largest stand of virgin cypress trees and its bird rookery. Visitors see the sanctuary from a 2 1/4-mile boardwalk that is wheelchair accessible. The sanctuary (phone 239-348-9151) is open every day and includes a nature store, snack room, exhibits and swamp theater. From I-75, drive north on State Route 29 toward Immokalee, left on Oil Well Road (Route 858) to Immokalee, then right on Route 846 to Sanctuary Road.
This story was updated January 30, 2006.
He also cultivated a tropical garden that's included in the daily tours. And don't miss seeing the enormous banyan tree on the grounds that was given to Edison by Harvey Firestone in 1925.
Automotive pioneer Henry Ford's winter estate also is located next door and both homes are included in guided tours that begin at 9 a.m. with the last one at 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Ford's restored home is furnished in the style of the 1920s, based on photographs and records of the house. Ford bought the place in 1916 because it was near the home of his friend, Edison.
This would be a busy day trip -- across Interstate 75 would be the fastest way -- or you could stay over and visit other Fort Myers places plus the two resort islands, Sanibel and Captiva, with beaches famous for their seashells. For specific information on the area, go to www.fortmyers-sanibel.com or call 800-237-6444 and order a free visitor's guide.
Coming or going, consider sidetracking to see Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, now celebrating its 50th anniversary as a place dedicated to preserving the nation's largest stand of virgin cypress trees and its bird rookery. Visitors see the sanctuary from a 2 1/4-mile boardwalk that is wheelchair accessible. The sanctuary (phone 239-348-9151) is open every day and includes a nature store, snack room, exhibits and swamp theater. From I-75, drive north on State Route 29 toward Immokalee, left on Oil Well Road (Route 858) to Immokalee, then right on Route 846 to Sanctuary Road.
This story was updated January 30, 2006.