The newly restored Edison buildings received the 2007 Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Award for recognition of significant achievement in the preservation of Florida’s rich heritage and in the field of restoration/rehabilitation.

In April 2007 the Estates hosted an Incandescent Evening celebrating the completion of the restoration.  The public was invited to a “free” night of tours, activities and educational programs.  Nearly 1,700 guests attended the event.   

Estates new programs  included lectures by Hal Wallace, visiting Curator, Smithsonian Institution, on “Edison After Forty” in the Estates Museum.   The Smithsonian Exhibition features historical photographs of Edison. 

The internationally acclaimed Black Maria Film Festival came to Florida for the first time in its 26 year history.  The two-night festival was a collaborative project with Edison College.  The first night was held outside on the Ford lawn at the Estates.  The second night was at Edison College and the Estates installed a special film exhibit at the College featuring artifacts highlighting Edison’s contribution to the film industry.  

Author of The Edisons of Fort Myers, Tom Smoot offers lectures and book signings at the Estates as well as community outreach programs to local groups and libraries.

Estates marketing efforts have expanded to Southwest Florida International Airport with the installation of two Edison and Ford antique cars, merchandise at the airport gift shop and educational materials to welcome the over six million visitors to the airport each year.  visitors to southwest Florida each year. 

Nearly 225,000 visitors to the Estates  enjoyed the option of experiencing  the Estates with a guided tour by an Estates Historic Interpreter, explore on their own, or stroll the grounds with the new audio tour in both English and German.  Estates maps are distributed in five languages, as well as a 40 page Tour Book. 

The Estates and Elderhostel, Inc. offered several Day of Discovery programs including:

   Architecture & Restoration Inside the Gardens Holiday House at the EstatesParticipants enjoyed botanical print making workshops, book signings, and Estates living history programs. Below, Estates volunteers attend an Estates sponsored event in downtown historic Fort Myers, and treated to a show at the  Florida Repertory Theatre.

The Estates offered a variety of art and  science  classes including horticultural workshops, textile classes and other  classes including painted floorcloths and Seminole appliqué work. 

The Clothes Line Quilt Show on the Ford Estate, Creative Cottage in the Edison Caretaker’s House, Antique Car Shows and the 32nd Annual Holiday House were a few of the programs offered to visitors to the Estates in 2007

Educational programming continued throughout the year with Home School Programs, Saturday Super Science Classes, Pre-school programs, an expanded Summer Camp Program and monthly Wild Wizard Performance Science Lab Shows. 

The Estates and Lee County School District collaborated on projects throughout the year. Students performed at the Estates, planted trees on Arbor Day, created handmade ornaments for  Holiday House, attended free “Teachers and Kids Days” at the Estates and every 4th grade student in the county had the opportunity to visit the Estates for free through the Environmental Education Program (in 2007 nearly 3,000 students participated in the program).  

The Estates celebrated the 145th birthday of Henry Ford at “The Mangoes” the winter estate of the Ford family with cake, antique cars, special presentation by the “Estates Eager Engineer”  Campers and  a visit from the Fords.  The Estates will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Ford Model T with special lectures, demonstrations and presentations throughout the summer and fall. 

Kids below enjoyed “fish printing” on Free Kids day at the Estates in August.