Fort Myers in Lee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Mina Miller Edison
1865 - 1947
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, October 10, 2015
1. Mina Miller Edison Marker
During their many years in Fort Myers, the Edison enjoyed creating areas for botanical research and family pleasure gardens as well as useful kitchen and truck gardens. In fact, Thomas Edison tested more than 17,000 plants for possible sources of rubber and also grew numerous fruits and vegetables such as citrus, mango and pineapples.
This area of the Estate was dedicated as a kitchen garden or in Edisons words, a garden truck, where staff could raise plants to use and to sell.
Mina Edison was also very interested in plants and gardening. On the estate, she worked with landscape architects to create the beautiful Moonlight Garden as well as the porch gardens which surrounded the historic buildings.
In the community, Mina Edison worked to improve Fort Myers through the creation of garden clubs and was an original member of the local Periwinkle Garden Club.
The statue of Mina Edison in the Garden was created by sculptor Don Wilkins and generously contributed by Estates patron Orvall McCleary.
Dedicated February 11, 2009.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Women.
Location.
this page online
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It was also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Edison Heritage Garden (here, next to this marker); Edison & Ford Winter Estates (within shouting distance of this marker); Meet Two of the Most Influential Men of the 20th Century (within shouting distance of this marker); Edisons Bayon Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); Experimental Plots (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Edison, Chemist (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Mina Miller Edison (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lay of the Land (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Myers.
Other markers no longer nearby. Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis)
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, October 10, 2015
2. Thomas and Mina Edison enjoy a quiet moment amongst the bamboo that grew throughout the Estate.
More about this marker. This marker has been removed and replaced with another marker on the same topic.
Also see . . . Edison & Ford Winter Estates. (Submitted on October 23, 2015.)
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, October 10, 2015
3. Mina and Thomas Edison
Mina shades herself from the tropical sun with a parasol as she and Thomas Edison take pleasure in the beauty of the Moonlight Garden
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, October 10, 2015
4. Mina Miller Edison
Mina Edison plants a tree as part of a beautification project along the local Tamiami Trail 1931.
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, October 10, 2015
5. Mina Miller Edison Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 777 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on August 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 23, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
