The Edison & Ford Winter Estates is a world class cultural and educational resource honoring the innovation and creativity of two of America’s most influential individuals – Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.  The 15,000 square foot, AIR CONDITIONED, Estates Museum inspires imagination, encourages intellectual exploration and stimulates the senses with his seven galleries featuring an impressive collection of inventions, artifacts and special exhibits.  A tour of the Museum includes: 

“The Inventions of Edison” –This permanent exhibit displays samples of Edison’s work as an inventor including the telegraph, telephone, cement, rubber, business machines as voice-recorders, stock-ticker,  x-ray machine, domestic appliances as toasters and irons, and many examples of the progression of the light bulb, and Ford’s custom made 1918 Model T kitchen truck for camping (currently under restoration) are located in this area..

“Edison Botanic Research Corporation (EBRC)” - Original artifacts and information about EBRC, including items from C. Azell Prince, Jr. Collection.  He was a clerk with the EBRC for Edison in Fort Myers and New Jersey from 1930-1934. The exhibit also includes artifacts from Edison’s Little Office.

“Edison and the Movies” – On view are selected examples from the Estates collection of movie projectors, cameras, nickelodeons and like entertainment devices.

“Power Systems” - This display includes a variety of generators and information panels about Edison’s power systems.

“Family, Friends and Fun” – An extensive collection of period photographs exist in the Estates archives.  This exhibit provides an opportunity for many of the historical photographs of  Edison and Ford, their families and their friends enjoying one another’s company—most of images are of  time spent in Fort Myers.  A majority of these photos come from personal albums found only at the Estates.

“The Wizard Invents”— Relates by decade Edison’s inventions, and includes artifacts and images.  Also includes video and handouts.

“The Child Wizard” is situated before entering “The Wizard Invents” which displays some photos and images of Edison as a young inventor.

The Ford Gallery—  The gallery includes a 1937 Ford Coupe, a 1940 V-8 engine, a one-of -a- kind model of Ford’s boat—the “Sialia” (meaning bluebird), family photos and history, and images and information reflecting the Edison and Ford relationship and their time spent in Fort Myers.

“Edison After Forty”— On loan from the Smithsonian Institution.  The exhibit includes  55 images, as well as artifacts from the Estates Collection.

“Edison and His Phonograph” – The Estates has collected hundreds of phonographs over the years.  On permanent display are early and unique phonographs and records, related inventions, and images as posters and photographs telling of the pleasures of this marvel invention (currently under remodeling).

A Selection of Edison & Ford Artifacts—miscellaneous important inventions of Thomas Edison, 1916 Model T Touring Car Ford gave to Edison, 100th Anniversary of the Model T display.