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239-334-7419 Edison & Ford Winter Estates Open Labor Day
FORT MYERS, Fla.(August 21, 2018) — The Edison & Ford Winter Estates will be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Labor Day. Visitors can see the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, the 15,000-square-foot museum and the National Historic Chemical Landmark laboratory, all on more than 20 acres of botanic gardens.
The air-conditioned museum is full of inventions and special exhibits and phonograph demonstrations are given throughout the day. Visitors can stroll along the Timeline of Innovation and see examples of both Edison’s and Ford’s inventions; participate in hands-on activities in the Smithsonian Spark!Lab, where children and families can have fun inventing; or take a break in the movie theater and learn even more about the two famous men who spent their winters in Fort Myers.
The botanic gardens feature specimens from all around the world, including palms, tropical fruit trees and many exotic plants with beautiful flowers. There also are several specialty demonstration areas, including a succulent garden, a butterfly garden and a Florida native plant garden. The site also includes giant trees, such as the popular Banyan and Mysore Fig that Edison and his workers planted nearly 100 years ago.
Several tour options are available, including guided tours held every hour, on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and self-guided tours with hand-held audio devices. A special Automotive Tour will start at 10:30 a.m. on Monday. Inside-the-Lab tours will be offered at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Garden Tours with a behind-the-scenes look at the propagating nursery are held on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Inside-the-Homes tours are offered at 11 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.
In addition, Edison Ford is a Blue Star Museums member and offers free admission to active duty military in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and NOAA Commissioned Corps when presenting a Geneva Convention Common Access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card.
For additional information, call 239-334-7419 or visit www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.
### Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Edison & Ford Winter Estates is the internationally known winter home site of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. More than 250,000 visitors walk through the location each year from all around the globe. The organization has received many awards, including the National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Garden Clubs’ Historic Preservation Award. The property is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures,” a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. The Edison Botanic Laboratory is a National Historic Chemical Landmark. The site is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and until 9 p.m. during the month of December for Holiday Nights.