The Edison & Ford Winter Estates is comprised of about 20 acres of beautiful exotic gardens and 9 buildings on the national historical register. Tour through this life size time capsule and see their homes, laboratories, inventions and research.

When you visit the Edison and Ford winter homes, you enter a world unlike any you have ever seen. The furnishings and architecture of these gracious, rambling buildings are reminiscent of a bygone era; yet there are many innovations which we do not have in the most modern of homes. The Ford porch, Adjacent to the vintage automobile garage, offers a spectacular riverfront view of the Caloosahatchee. Edison’s tropical botanical garden, one of the most complete in America, contains more that one-thousand varieties of plants imported from all over the world, including African sausage trees and a Banyan tree from Calcutta, India that is approximately 400 feet. The Banyan tree was a gift from Harvey Firestone in 1925. Originally, this was an experimental garden. Edison was interested in the various products and by-products of the plants, which he used in many of his scientific investigations.

Later, Mrs. Edison enhanced the garden with many beautiful plants, including roses, orchids and bromeliads. The chemical laboratory is one of the most absorbing features of the Edison Estate. Here, workers helped Edison in his research on goldenrod as a source of natural rubber. Throughout the laboratory, where Edison conducted his last major experiments, all of his things are just as they were in his lifetime, including his "cat-nap" cot. Because of his deafness, Edison's sleep was undisturbed and relaxed him so much that 15 minute sleep to him was as good as is several hours to anyone else.

Cost: $78.00    (Lunch on your own)

Activity Scale: 4 (1-5)

1. Very little walking (less than 30 minutes)

2. Moderate walking (30 minutes -1 hour)

3. Comfortable walk (1-3 hours)

4. Active walking and activities (3-5 hours)

5. Lots of walking and/or challanging activities)

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