After the long and hot boat trip the previous day, we felt saturated with sun, and wanted to do something else. So, we decided to let the boat rest and went to the Edison and Ford estate on the Fort Myers side of the river. We had seen it from outside the last time we were in Florida, passing by on the long palm-lined McGregor Boulevard. Again, it was an extremely hot day and the heat felt like a slap in the face, when we got out of the car.
In the ticketing office, the guy behind the counter figured it would be cheaper for us to get a one year membership of the Edison estate than buying tickets for the whole family. So, we ended up getting a membership card and welcoming bag with lots of other discounts for entering museums around the US ;-).
First, we checked out the museum, showing a lot of different things, the great inventor Edison had been tinkering with, such as electric generators, phonographs, etc. There was also a couple of mounted Tarpons. Edison loved fishing and gardening - my kind of guy.
Being sickly already in his thirties, Edison was prescribed by his doctor, to spend the winters in the mild climate of Florida. He had the estate next to the river built, when there was basically nothing else around. The road next to the estate was a mere cattle road. He started by building a very long pier by which all the materials for building the houses could be brought in. He had two lovely houses built, one for himself and his family and one as a guest house (although also used by themselves). He also had the very long McGregor Boulevard lined with royal palms, now a signature of Fort Myers.
While in Florida, he started an experimental garden with the biggest project being the search for a plant source of rubber. He identified the weed Goldenrod as the most promising plant, having a high content of latex and being easy to cultivate.
Later, Ford, who was a close friend of the Edisons, bought the neighboring land and had a house built there.
Edison lived to be 84 years old, so being the first "snowbird" was apparently good for his health!
In front of the giant Banyan tree (a rubber tree) brought there by Firestone (the car tire magnate), next to a statue of Edison.
Edison's swimming pool, lined with banana trees
Living room
Bedroom
Botanical laboratory
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