Hours of Operations
Open year -round (except for Christmas & Thanksgiving) 7 days a week 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Extended hours for for special programs and rentals are available. The Estates is located at 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. For more information call 239-334-7419.
Museum Store, Garden Shoppe, Cottage Shoppe open daily with unique gift and educational items, historic plants propageted from the Estates' plants and other garden items.
Visitors
225,000 visitors per year making it one of the 10 most visited national historic homes in the country.
Tours
Guided tours hourly 10 AM until 3 PM; audio and self guided tours available 9 AM – 5:30 PM and include the historical homes, museum, laboratory and gardens. Botanical tours available on Thursdays & Saturdays 9 AM. Group tours and rental arrangements available daily throughout the year.
Memberships
Estates Membership includes various levels and benefits. Members receive free admission and discounts to the Estates as well as to hundreds of other museums, gardens and botanical sites, depending upon membership level. Currently 1,000 members including businesses.
History
The Edison Estate was deeded to the City of Fort Myers by Mrs. Thomas (Mina) Edison in 1947 and opened to the public later that year. The Ford Estate was purchased by the Estates in 1988 and opened to the public in 1990. A new non-profit corporation operates both properties, which are owned by the City of Fort Myers.
Awards & Recognitions
Winner of the 2009 top award of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Register of Historic Places. Awards include: Save America’s Treasures Project; Restore America; Florida Heritage Landmark; Partner Place for the National Trust for Historic Preservation; Award of Merit 2006 Florida Society of Architects; Award of Merit 2006 National Association of Landscape Architects/Florida Division; 2006 Governor’s Hall of Fame Award for Florida Tourism; Alliance of the Arts, Angel of the Arts Award 2008; Lee Building Industry Association’s Summit Award for Excellence in Commercial Construction presented to Chris-Tel Construction Company for the historical restoration work completed on the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
Historic Buildings,
Gardens & Grounds
Nine National Register Historic buildings as well as the Botanical and Research Gardens. The historic research and contemporary gardens consist of approximately 20 acres of lush tropical botanical gardens, 500 unique plants, flowers and trees, including 4 champion trees, federal C.I.T.E.S. orchid program and propagation greenhouse and nursery. The Estates are ADA accessible and wheelchairs are available. Parking for 400 vehicles and buses. Food service and picnic areas available.
Estates Museum
15,000 sq. ft. museum with hundreds of Edison and Ford inventions and objects, video theatres, and changing special exhibits.
Events & Programs
Holidays Nights, Incandescent Evening Fundraiser during Festival of Lights, Thomas Edison’s Birthday, Henry Ford Birthday, Black Maria Film Festival, Antique Car Shows, Garden Market, Garden Teas, Lectures, Book Signings, Art Shows, Director’s Tours, Wild Wizard Shows, Plant Sales
Education & Programs
Summer Camp, Year-round educational classes for children and adults, Year-round school programs and group tours, adult tour and other activities, school outreach, college university internships, etc. projects.
Governing Authority
A non-profit corporation, the Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates, Inc. governs Edison & Ford Winter Estates and operates dba Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Inc.
The corporation governs and manages both estates for the City of Fort Myers which owns the historic property.
The Mission is to protect, preserve and interpret the site for the community and visitors.
The corporation is designated as a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable educational organization. It is also listed on the National Historic Register, Historic Florida Landmark and an original Save America’s Treasures of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Board of Trustees: Suzanne Edwards, Chair
Cole Peacock, Vice Chair
Joseph Shepard, Treasurer
Colleen DePasquale, Secretary
Frank Aloia, Jr., Frank Balogh, L.D. Bochette, Sidney Ann Brinson, John Cauthen, Kathy Dean, Jeanne Dozier, Dena Geraghty, Honorable Tammy Hall, Helen Hendry, Melvin Morgan, Marietta Mudgett, Steve Niehaus, Margaret Sirianni, Grover Whidden
Staff
Chris Tenne Pendleton, President & CEO
50 Paid Professional Staff, 150 Volunteers
Operating Budget
$4.2 million from earned revenues, grants, and contributions.
Capital & Restoration Projects
Recently completed projects of the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Inc. include: $12 million in capital restoration through grants from the City of Fort Myers, Lee County, State of Florida, HUD, and private sources, such as the Edison Ford Winter Estates Foundation and other private and corporate grants and donations.
Fundraising
Through Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Inc., the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, the Edison Ford Winter Estates Foundation and other partnerships.
Plans through 2009/2010
Preliminary Stabilization and Restoration of Edison Botanic Lab 2010
New adjacent parking area and entrance median
Master Plan completed and being implemented in phases
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