12/26/00 - Ft. Myers, Florida - Edison & Ford Estates Tour The Edison & Ford Estates in Fort Myers, Florida were home to Thomas Edison & Family during the winter months and to Henry Ford & Family for about 2 weeks during the winter. On the estate, there are many different types of trees, Edison was always searching for ways to use trees (quite a few were from Cuba) to produce a lot of the raw materials that were shipped in from overseas. For example he found that using Goldenrod was a great way to produce rubber. He also figured that if he found ways to create and produce the raw materials that were being shipped in from across the oceans, the US would be much better off if those shipments stopped coming in for any reason. As expected, the labs felt very similar to the labs at Greenfield Village in Michigan. :) According to our host, Don, the Banyan Tree at the Edison Ford Estates is one of the largest in the world -- it was incredible, be sure to take some time and view the pictures of it at the very bottom of this Photo Album. There are a lot of pictures here, so take your time and enjoy!
As we entered the Estates, I snapped my first picture of part of the Banyan Tree (many more pictures are available below).	Click to read the introductory information on Edison's Home.	Rules... Rules... Rules...
Here's Don! He was our host, he did a great job. :)	A view of our group and one of the many different type of trees on the tour.	Click to read about "The Caretakers Cottage".
The Bamboo trees -- Don stated that some bamboo (in Japan) can grow at a rate of a foot every 3 hours!	Click to read about "Edison Arrives in Fort Myers".	Here we are entering Edison's Study.
Here is the garden behind the Study.	According to Don, this pool was the first one built in Florida. It was built in 1910, and Edison never used it (his family and guests did, though!)	Here is our host is standing in front of "The Edison Pier".
Sugarcane - another one of Edison's plantings, as can be seen on the tag, this came from Southeast Asia.	Click to read about "The Edison Pier".	The Bearded Palm - this came from Cuba.
Here we are at Edison's Winter home, Edison designed this house -- its architecture is quite unique compared to other houses built at the same time. For example, on almost every side of the house, there are huge porches...	Here is a view toward the Caloosahatchee River from Edison's house.	A view of the porch facing to the west.
Here is a view into the main living quarters in the home.	Here is the master bedroom -- Edison had a 'backup' bedroom above this on the second floor for when his wife and him didn't get a long... ;)	Here is a view of the eastern porch...
On every porch there seems to be at least one swinging bench.	View #1 (#2 is directly below this picture) of Edison's fireplace and piano.	Another view into Edison's living room.
Here is a view out toward the river.	View #2 (#1 is directly above this picture) of Edison's fireplace and piano. Above the fireplace is a picture of Edison.	Here is the walkway toward the kitchen and dining room.
The crowd gathers as Don tells us more interesting facts.	Nicely decorated Christmas tree, and a view into the dining room.	Another view of the Christmas tree.
Dining Room - Part 1.	Dining Room - Part 2.	Dining Room - Part 3.
Even around the dining room, there are BIG porches.	Here is a view into the kitchen.	And yet another view of the dining room (from a different entrance).
This portion of the big porch surrounding the dining room is screened in, the Caloosahatchee river is off in the distance.	Edison's son, Charles, caught the Tarpon (fish) that is on the wall - while fishing with his father.	Tara points out that the Ford Home is right next to the Edison estates, we are on our way to it now!
Click to read about the Edison Guest House (which was converted into the dining room/kitchen).	Here is a view of the Ford home - it's amazing that he only used the home 2 weeks out of the year as a vacation retreat from Michigan.	Before we entered the Ford home, we went through the Garage. Here is a view of the back of a Model A.
We can't remember what car this was, can you help us?	Check out the tire on this one!	This is a really early version of a pick up truck.
This is a view from the front of the garage down to the river.	Don stands between the Model T and Model A.	Front view of the Model A.
A view of the Ford home.	Cool trees!	Nice landscaping! A view from the porch of the Ford home toward the river.
The dining room in the Ford home.	A vintage typewriter...	The National Register of Historic Places sign for the Henry Ford Home.
Two pictures - the first is of the fireplace from 1920, and the second is of Edison & Ford (and others) sitting together.	The Ford home living room (nicely decorated for Christmas).	A view of the garage from the Ford home.
Check out the dangly things on this tree!	Interesting information on the Moreton Bay Fig tree.	Back view of the Edison home.
This picture does not do this tree justice, take a look at how big the roots are!	A view down McGregor Boulevard.	The big Banyan Tree! This is one branch that extends out about 50'! BE SURE TO CHECK OUT EVEN MORE BANYAN TREE PICTURES AT THE BOTTOM!
An interesting view of the roots of one of the branches on the Banyan Tree	Holy root system, Batman!	Banyan Trees rule (and grow quickly), Don tells us about how only 70 or so years ago this tree was planted.
Click to read about the Rubber Laboratory.	On the left is an example of the Goldenrod used to make rubber, the picture on the right is of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone.	A view into Edison's Rubber Laboratory - for those of you who have been to Greenfield Village it definitely looked and felt similar!
Close-up of one of the lab lights.	Close-up of the lab equipment.	Apparently someone liked Baby Ruths!
A view of the workspace in the lab.	One more view of the lab.	We are now in the Edison Ford museum, here is a view of one of Edison's cars.
One of Edison's inventions that he perfected at his Florida home, the storage battery.	Click to read about Edison's motion picture invention.	Click to read about Edison's phonograph invention.
The Antique Brooch, created with Edison's inventions.	A picture of George Eastman & Thomas Edison.	Click to read about the model of Edison's "black maria", a movie studio.
Here is a big view of the "black maria".	Here is a picture of the world's first motion camera using strip film.	One of Edison's many cars he owned over the years, a Cadillac.
Edison's Model T -- Henry Ford offered Edison a brand new Ford almost every year, and Edison refused, he loved his original Model T.	It is hard to get the picture of how big the Banyan Tree is -- however, this picture should help, take a look at the people at the bottom of the picture.	Another shot of a part of tree, with people in the photo for perspective.
Aren't Banyan Trees cool?! What a neat root system.	The mini-van is dwarfed by the Banyan Tree.	A final view of the Banyan Tree...
Back to the Photo Album