Fort Myers in Lee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Edisons & Fords In Wild Florida

— Edison and Ford Winter Estates —

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 1, 2025

1. The Edisons & Fords in Wild Florida Marker

Inscription.

The Edisons and Fords In Wild Florida. . , Both the Edison and Ford families enjoyed the natural beauty of Florida, The photographs they left behind tell a story of what they truly valued. The vast majority of the photos they snapped show their families enjoying the natural environment in the woods and waters surrounding their winter homes., While Thomas Edison enjoyed angling for tarpon, grouper, and other types of fish, Mina enjoyed watching birds. The children took to canoes, where they fished and searched for shells on the sandy beaches along the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. Henry and Clara Ford spent many hours with the Edisons, enjoying camping, fishing, and exploring., (Sidebar) , “The birds are fascinating. Every morning father dear and I sit for a few moments after breakfast and watch them. Blue jays feeding their young, black birds of all kinds, re[d] birds and cat birds all busy feeding their little babies right at our feet... It is just a joy." , Mina Edison, in a letter to her son Theodore and his wife Ann, 1929, (captions) , Left: Thomas Edison entertains himself by feeding "Jerry" the pet Brown Pelican. , Right: Theodore Edison poses with Jerry. Om the back of this photo, older sister Madeleine Edison noted: "He (jerry) has been known to eat four fish, one after the other., Left: Clara Ford (in car), Henry Ford and Mina and Thomas Edison spend some time in the Florida Everglades watching wild, turkeys and deer during a camp out in 1914., Did You Know? , Charles Edison once caught a 15-foot sawfish while fishing along the Caloosahatchee river., Did You Know? , Mina Edison was a dedicated conservationist. As a member of the National Audubon Society and the Chautauqua Bird, Tree, and Garden Club, she worked to protect birds and their habitats for future generations., (captions) , Photos Left to Right: 1. Charles Edison and his sister Madeleine (center) and a friend, Bessie Kunz (left) search for shells on the beach in 1914. 2. Thomas Edison and son Charles pose with their catch after a fishing trip, 1901. 3. Mina Edison leads guests on a nature walk around the gardens, circa 1920. 4. Edison fishing aboard his battery-powered launch the "Reliance," circa 1920. 5. Mina poses with her second husband Edward Hughes after a successful tarpon fishing trip in 1935., Inset: Steamboat Captain and nature expert Fred Menge arranged for a trip into the Everglades for Mina Edison and friends. Here they study nestlings in the marshy waters of the swamp in 1930.

Both the Edison and Ford families enjoyed the natural beauty of Florida

The photographs they left behind tell a story of what they truly valued. The vast majority of the photos they snapped show their families enjoying the natural environment in the woods and waters surrounding their winter homes.

While Thomas Edison enjoyed angling for tarpon, grouper, and other types of fish, Mina enjoyed watching birds. The children took to canoes, where they fished and searched for shells on the sandy beaches along the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. Henry and Clara Ford spent many hours with the Edisons, enjoying camping, fishing, and exploring.

(Sidebar)
“The birds are fascinating. Every morning father dear and I sit for a few moments after breakfast and watch them. Blue jays feeding their young, black birds of all kinds, re[d] birds and cat birds all busy feeding their little babies right at our feet... It is just a joy." —Mina Edison, in a letter to her son Theodore and his wife Ann, 1929

(captions)
Left: Thomas Edison entertains himself by feeding "Jerry" the pet Brown Pelican.
Right: Theodore Edison poses with Jerry. Om the back of this photo, older sister Madeleine Edison noted: "He (jerry) has been known to eat four fish, one after the other.

Left: Clara Ford (in car), Henry Ford and Mina and Thomas Edison spend some time in the Florida Everglades watching wild, turkeys and deer during a camp out in 1914.

Did You Know?
Charles

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Edison once caught a 15-foot sawfish while fishing along the Caloosahatchee river.

Did You Know?
Mina Edison was a dedicated conservationist. As a member of the National Audubon Society and the Chautauqua Bird, Tree, and Garden Club, she worked to protect birds and their habitats for future generations.

(captions)
Photos Left to Right: 1. Charles Edison and his sister Madeleine (center) and a friend, Bessie Kunz (left) search for shells on the beach in 1914. 2. Thomas Edison and son Charles pose with their catch after a fishing trip, 1901. 3. Mina Edison leads guests on a nature walk around the gardens, circa 1920. 4. Edison fishing aboard his battery-powered launch the "Reliance," circa 1920. 5. Mina poses with her second husband Edward Hughes after a successful tarpon fishing trip in 1935.

Inset: Steamboat Captain and nature expert Fred Menge arranged for a trip into the Everglades for Mina Edison and friends. Here they study nestlings in the marshy waters of the swamp in 1930.

Erected by Edison and Ford Winter Estates. (Marker Number #2.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 1, 2025

2. The Edisons & Fords in Wild Florida Marker

• Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Waterways & Vessels • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.

Location. 26° 38.089′ N, 81° 52.836′ W. Marker is in Fort Myers, Florida, in Lee County. It can be reached from West First Street 0.1 miles north of Llewellyn Drive, on the left when traveling north. Located on the grounds of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates on the river side of the complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers FL 33901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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 marker: Edison’s Florida Paradise (a few

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steps from this marker); Cycad Garden (a few steps from this marker); Edison’s Study (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Edison’s Study (within shouting distance of this marker); Never Forget Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); National Society Daughters of American Revolution Caloosahatchee Chapter (within shouting distance of this marker); The Moonlight Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Swimming Pool (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Myers.

Also see . . .
1. Edison and Ford Winter Estates. (Submitted on August 15, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Edison and Ford Winter Estates. (Submitted on August 15, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 89 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 15, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.