He was one of Florida’s first snowbirds, traveling south every winter to escape brutal cold weather in New Jersey. But Thomas Edison was no ordinary tourist, and his time in Florida was no ordinary holiday.
Edison and Ford Winter EstatesIndeed, one of Edison’s first tasks upon buying land in Fort Myers in 1885 was to build a lab, where he worked on numerous projects, including finding a natural source for rubber.
The complex, just west of downtown, sustained minor damage from Hurricane Ian in late September, was closed for a month, but is back to welcoming thousands of guests every week. Visitors can easily spend a half-day here, immersing themselves in the beauty of the property and the accomplishments of its occupants.Inside Edison's lab, part of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida.
Fort Myers at the time was a small ranching town, with fewer than 400 residents. Edison bought his 13.5 acres from a local rancher in 1885 for $2,700 – a substantial overpayment, according to Edwards, who added, “The joke was that he got the Yankee discount.”Edison would spend the next several decades traveling back and forth between Florida and the East Coast.
“He wasn’t fond of dinner parties,” said Edwards, likely in large part because he was deaf most of his life.A statue of Mina Miller Edison, an Akron native, on the grounds of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.A massive banyan tree, used in Edison's scientific experiments, on the grounds of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.
During his final years, Edison was working furiously to find a natural source for rubber, although he was ultimately unsuccessful.Among the organic matter considered: the banyan tree, which ultimately proved to be too slow-growing and impractical.
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