Bill On The Road
  • ROAD TRIP IDEAS
    • SIGHTSEEING
    • AMERICA
    • Road Trip Lists
    • Tips
    • ROAD QUIRK
  • BILL’S BOOKS
  • About Bill On The Road
    • About Bill Clevlen
    • Booking Information
    • Appearances
  • Work With Bill
  • Contact
  • ROAD TRIP IDEAS
    • SIGHTSEEING
    • AMERICA
    • Road Trip Lists
    • Tips
    • ROAD QUIRK
  • BILL’S BOOKS
  • About Bill On The Road
    • About Bill Clevlen
    • Booking Information
    • Appearances
  • Work With Bill
  • Contact
Bill On The Road
FeaturedSIGHTSEEING

You Can Now Visit The Winter Homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford

by Bill Clevlen December 15, 2022
by Bill Clevlen

One peek inside the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford in Fort Meyers, Florida and you’ll think their families never left. Both homes are beautifully decorated for the holidays. Even the dining room tables are set for a lavish Christmas meal.

Thomas Edison bought property here in the late 1800s and built a winter getaway to escape the cold New Jersey winters. Years later, Edison’s good friend, Henry Ford purchased a house next door after previous visits to Fort Meyers.

Today, the property consists of the main Edison winter home; a guest house; the Ford winter home; a botanical garden; a museum; and Edison’s lab which was used in researching domestic grown trees for rubber.

Visitors can enjoy guided or self-guided tours around the estate and look directly into the houses through modified doors and windows. The best feature of the Edison house is the spacious, wraparound porch. The Edison family enjoyed spending time outside and the porch provided a perfect opportunity for shade and a beautiful view of the river on which the property sits.

Thomas Edison’s Winter Estate
Edison Family Dining Room
Henry Ford’s winter home

Henry Ford’s home is slightly more modest though the interior woodwork makes it feel a bit more warm and cozy than the Edison house. However, the Edison home is more authentic as it was deeded directly from the family to the City of Fort Meyers with many personal items still inside.

On the other side of the street, visitors can explore a museum loaded with some of Edison’s notable inventions. There are also random exhibits like a car gifted to Edison from Ford; rare phonographs; and various documents and photographs. The museum leads to Edison’s research lab which visitors can view through metal fencing.

The estate is open to visitors all year long (except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day). You should plan on spending at least two hours to see everything. For a complete list of hours and events, check out the official Edison and Ford Winter Estate website.

0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Bill Clevlen

Bill Clevlen is a road trip expert and travel content creator for radio and TV stations across the U.S. His stories have been published in major media outlets like The Los Angeles Times and is heard sharing travel tips and ideas on SiriusXM Radio. He's the author of five travel books - The Ultimate American Music Bucket List, 100 Things To Do In America Before You Die, Driving Across America, An American Road Trip For Kids, and Finding The American Dream.

previous post
Babyland: A Gigantic Mansion Built For Cabbage Patch Kids
next post
Here Are 17 Great Road Trips From Jacksonville

Have You Visited These Places?

  • Coastal Mississippi’s Biggest Attraction: Kindness

  • What I Learned After One Week In The Villages

  • Thoroughbred Country Is A Hidden Gem in South Carolina

  • Discover This Small Georgia Town for Big Family Fun

  • How to Spend One Day in Spartanburg

  • These Small Towns in South Carolina Offer Big Outdoor Fun

  • 9 Things To Know About Hendersonville, North Carolina

  • Beautiful Brevard: Exploring North Carolina’s Waterfall Mecca

  • I’m In Love With This Tennessee Town

  • Manhattan, Kansas Might Just Surprise You

LATEST TRAVEL TIPS

Subscribe for the latest road trip ideas, behind the scenes updates, travel tips & videos from Bill On The Road!

viagra here kamagra kokemuksia here
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Email

@2021 - Bill On The Road | Rediscover America


Back To Top