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

Edison’s Study

— Edison and Ford Winter Estates —

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 1, 2025

1. Edison’s Study Marker

Inscription.
The Fort Myers laboratory that once stood here was constructed in 1886 for $16,000 and included a steam-powered dynamo generator. In 1928 Henry Ford convinced Thomas Edison to give him the Fort Myers laboratory to add to his collection at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. In return, Ford financed the construction of this study, the Moonlight Garden behind it, and made improvements to the swimming pool area. Edison would have primarily used this study in the evenings and Saturday afternoons rather than having to walk across the street to his new botanical laboratory. This study also hosted a series of birthday interviews, where reporters peppered him with questions on a variety of topics.

Following a recommendation from Clara Ford, Mina Edison hired pioneering landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman to design the Moonlight Garden. It features a reflecting pond surrounded by blue and white flowers to easily be viewed on moonlit evenings.
(captions)
Background Photo: Thomas Edison poses near the side of the Study, circa 1929.

Above: Mina and her daughter-in-law Carolyn walk by the reflecting pond in the Moonlight Garden, circa 1931.
Below: A hand-colored postcard with a view of the Fort Myers laboratory in 1928.

Erected by Edison

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and Ford Winter Estates.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 26° 38.101′ N, 81° 52.833′ W. Marker is in Fort Myers, Florida, in Lee County. It is on McGregor Boulevard 0.1 miles north of Llewellyn Drive, on the right when traveling north. Located on the grounds of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates on the river side of the compound. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2350 McGregor Boulevard, 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

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Edison’s Study Marker

of this marker: Swimming Pool (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Edison’s Study (a few steps from this marker); The Moonlight Garden (a few steps from this marker); The Edisons & Fords In Wild Florida (a few steps from this marker); Water Systems (within shouting distance of this marker); Edison’s Florida Paradise (within shouting distance of this marker); Motor Generator (within shouting distance of this marker); The Coconut Grove (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Myers.

Also see . . . Edison and Ford Winter Estates. (Submitted on August 24, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Edison’s Study Interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 1, 2025

3. Edison’s Study Interior

Credits. This page was last revised on August 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 91 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.