Two of the world’s most revolutionary minds once vacationed in Fort Myers, and its islands, beaches and neighborhoods. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford have a special connection to the destination which served as the home of their winter vacation houses, which is now known as the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. The two prominent families spent countless hours taking in the sun, nature and working on their discoveries. With Oct. 21 being the 95th anniversary of Edison’s revolutionary invention, the lightbulb, I’d love to hear your thoughts about an article highlighting the history travelers can see when visiting these unique homes in a destination where some of the world’s greatest ideas came to life.
In 1885, Thomas Edison purchased 13-acre of land along the Caloosahatchee River as a gift for his wife, Mina Edison, which he called “Seminole Lodge,” and in 1916, Henry Ford purchased the property next door, which they named “The Mangoes.” Mina Edison, was so fond of the property that following her death in 1947, she left the land to the city of Fort Myers and subsequently was open to the public. In 1988, the City of Fort Myers purchased The Mangoes to form what we know today as the Edison & Ford Winter Estates…