Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Posted by: 
lazyCachers
N 26° 38.055 W 081° 52.778
17R E 412444 N 2946227
Located in front of the Ford & Edison Estates in Ft. Myers, Florida.
Waymark Code: WM3RA1
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 05/10/2008
Views: 51
In 1885 world-famous inventor Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) first visited Fort Myers. In 1886 he built his winter home, "Seminole Lodge," a second home for a friend/partner, and a laboratory. He brought his bride, Mina Miller Edison (1865-1947), to honeymoon and vacation here in 1886. The homes were designed by Edison and pre-cut by two firms in Maine and shipped to Fort Myers. In 1916 industrialist Henry Ford (1863-1947) purchased the estate next door, "The Mangoes," in order to spend more time with his good friend and mentor, Thomas Edison. These two prominent figures vacationed here until Edison's death in 1931, and Mina continued to vacation here until 1947. The City of Fort Myers purchased the Ford estate in 1988 as an addition to the Edison Historical Site. Mina generously deeded the estate to the City of Fort Myers for $1.00. In her dedication ceremony on March 6, 1947, she stated: "My faith and belief in the sincerity of the people of Fort Myers prompts me to make this sacred spot a gift to you and posterity as a Sanctuary and Botanical Park in the memory of my honored and revered husband, Thomas A. Edison, who so thoroughly believed in the future of Fort Myers."
Marker Number: F-462
Date: 2002
County: Lee
Marker Type: City
Sponsored or placed by: The City of Ft. Myers and The Florida Department of State
Website: [Web Link]
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