Formed 1901, the Alva Book Club, was incorporated as the Alva Library Association November 15, 1906. It provided the first public library in Southwest Florida on this lot donated by Captain Peter Nelson, Alva's founder. This library was dedicated . . . — — Map (db m128652) HM
Side1
The oldest church on the island. On Jan.10, 1910 the Rev. D.B. Sweat was sent to minister to the needs of the growing community. Six months later the church was chartered with 17 members as Boca Grande Methodist Episcopal Church, . . . — — Map (db m156467) HM
The Gasparilla Inn, built by the Boca Grande Land Company, subsidiary of a national phosphate company that was an early major island land holder, opened in 1911. Under the leadership of company principal, Peter Bradley (1850-1933), the hotel . . . — — Map (db m128322) HM
On November 28th, 1905, the steamboat Mistletoe of Tampa with the engineer corps and a force of sixty laborers landed on the beach directly opposite this spot, and the initial work of surveying and constructing the Charlotte Harbor and Northern . . . — — Map (db m128324) HM
The First Baptist Church of Boca Grande is the oldest church building on Gasparilla Island and housed one of the island’s two oldest congregations. In the early 1900s, phosphate companies decided to use the port of Boca Grande as a primary shipping . . . — — Map (db m128323) HM
This school contains two historic building and is a rare example of a historical school that continues to serve its original function. The rural village of Bonita Springs, originally called Survey, grew during the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s and . . . — — Map (db m127699) HM
Near here on the Caloosahatchee River a band of 160 Indians attacked the Fort and Trading Post at four o'clock on the morning of July 23, 1839. In the raid led by Chief Chekaika of the Spanish Indians, thirteen soldiers died and fourteen, including . . . — — Map (db m127695) HM
This monument immortalizes the famous photograph taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal during the American victory over Japan on the island of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. One of the most iconic images of World War II, the . . . — — Map (db m127696) HM
The building now known as the Captiva Chapel-by-the-Sea was built in 190l as a one-room schoolhouse by the Lee County Board of Public Instruction. William Binder, the first settler to establish a homestead on. Captiva, donated the land. As it was . . . — — Map (db m260922) HM
The Captiva Cemetery is closely associated with the history of Captiva Island. It served as a pioneer cemetery, and contains the graves of many of the island's earliest settlers. The land for the cemetery was part of a homestead established by . . . — — Map (db m260919) HM
'Tween Waters Inn was established on Captiva Island by F. Bowman and Grace B. Price in 1931. They started the inn with a single building and expanded it over the next 30 years, adding guest cottages, a marina, and other buildings as they built their . . . — — Map (db m94924) HM
Side 1
Dr. Cyrus Read Teed, Founder of the Koreshan Unity and President of the Koreshan University of Chicago, established in 1892 his "College of Life" in Estero, Florida, as a cooperative community in the spirit of Christ's teaching.
"We . . . — — Map (db m171462) HM
In 1893, the Koreshans, a religious sect
founded by Dr. Cyrus R. Teed moved here.
Communal living and a belief that the universe
existed on the inside of the earth were
among the distinctive features of their
doctrine. Living celibate lives, . . . — — Map (db m16038) HM
“Beyond doubt you have the finest place in the country, and if you build a sea wall inside a few years this section will not be large enough to hold the tourists that will be scrambling to get here every winter. Yes, sir, by all means build . . . — — Map (db m90286) HM
1929 Ford Model A
Introduced in December of 1927, the Model A became the successor to the Ford Model T. Although the "new" A was named after the original 1903 Model A, mechanical upgrades and a sleek body design made the newer model much . . . — — Map (db m282527) HM
(left panel)
On July 20 1861, U.S. Army Officer Major French wrote to U.S. Naval Officer McKean "I have information that a schooner, fitted out as a slaver is in the Caloosahatchee River. Her appointments I am told are full."
On . . . — — Map (db m218724) HM WM
The Six Mile Cypress Slough has a diverse array of plants that occur in recognizable zones. Ecological conditions such as ground elevations, soil types and water depths determine the vegetation character of these communities. As you continue to . . . — — Map (db m106520) HM
Just like our lawns today, Thomas Edison's tropical gardens required a consistent supply of water to ensure they flourished. In addition to storing rainwater in large elevated wooden storage tanks, and later the cistern by the pool, Edison dug many . . . — — Map (db m281137) HM
Edison, Ford, and Firestone formed the Edison Botanic Research Corporation in 1927 to find a fast-growing, natural source of rubber that could be grown in the United States. The banyan tree was one of more than 17,000 plant specimens that were . . . — — Map (db m281099) HM
Kayak clinics and guided trips available. Please check flyers available at the visitor center for more information or visit our website at www.leeparks.org
Be a real friend to our wildlife: Stay a stranger
Paddling provides you with very . . . — — Map (db m106693)
What are Butterflies
Butterflies and Moths are insects that belong to the order Lepidoptera. The Greek word for scale (lepid) and wing (ptera) is joined to mean scale-wing. Their body four wings, and six legs are almost entirely covered with . . . — — Map (db m106681) HM
Clara Bryant Ford had a passion for roses and grew over 350 varieties and 10,000 plants at the family’s estate, Fair Lane, in Dearborn, Michigan. Mrs. Ford’s favorites were tea roses in shades of yellow and white.
Did you know Clara Ford hired . . . — — Map (db m89877) HM
• Cycads first appeared about 280 million years ago. Most cycad species that relied on dinosaurs for pollination are extinct.
• Once covering most of the landmass of Earth, including present-day Antarctica, cycads occur in the tropical and . . . — — Map (db m285034) HM
Built in 1928, this laboratory was designed with one purpose in mind: to find a natural source of rubber that could be grown in the United States. Divided into six sections, parts of the laboratory operated similarly to an assembly line, with . . . — — Map (db m282421) HM
Some of the Seminole Lodge Staff
Queenie Adams · J.F. Anderson · Mr. Bassler · Mr. & Mrs. Black · Ellen Carr · Michael & Tina Doyle · James Evans · Harvie Heitman · William Hibble · Henry Horsey · Noah Keen ·
George Kinze · Fred Ott · Sidney . . . — — Map (db m281350) HM
Edison created a large domestic support area for the Estate on the east side of McGregor Boulevard. Storage buildings, equipment, a truck garden, and even a horse were located there. On the west side, retaining and expanding the Caretaker’s House on . . . — — Map (db m90275) HM
The Edison Estate riverside buildings were originally built in 1886 and remodeled slightly throughout the years.
The sprawling Edison Seminole Lodge is made up of the Family Home, connecting pergola and Guest House. The Edison Moonlight Garden . . . — — Map (db m281753) HM
Edison’s plan of a “Floridian bower in the lowlands of the peninsular Eden, with that charmed zone of beauty” was realized as he completed the Seminole Lodge Estate.
By the fall of 1885 designs were completed and materials for construction and . . . — — Map (db m281655) HM
Entry in Seminole Lodge Guest Book
—Harrie Monkhouse, Guest
March 21-April 3, 1916
Have you ever dreamed a dream of Heaven?
Where the Garden of Eden grows?
Well, come down with me to the Florida Coast
Where the Caloosahatchee . . . — — Map (db m281660) HM
This garden area has been created to reflect the Edison original plan for the Estate landscape. It commemorates the legacy of Thomas and Mina Edison and other groups and individuals involved in the cultural landscape of the Edison & Ford Winter . . . — — Map (db m89866) HM
Historic Edison Park School, a public elementary school, is one of the oldest in Southwest Florida. It has played a prominent role in the cultural as well as the educational life of this community.
Started in 1926 and opened on March 30, 1927, it . . . — — Map (db m101017) HM
The pier was originally called “the wharf.” It was used as a working area to off-load boats carrying materials and contents for the homes and laboratory, beginning in November 1885. After the Estate buildings were complete, the pier’s . . . — — Map (db m90285) HM
“Madeleine, Marie, Theodore and the two maids have gone bathing in the hotel pool—so everybody is happy," wrote Mina to family, April 7, 1909.
By the 1911 winter season the family and staff no longer had to travel downtown to the Royal Palm . . . — — Map (db m281548) HM
“Madeleine, Marie, Theodore and the two maids have gone bathing in the hotel pool—so everybody is happy," wrote Mina to family, April 7, 1909.
By the 1911 winter season the family and staff no longer had to travel downtown to the Royal Palm . . . — — Map (db m281549) HM
Famous inventor and businessman Thomas Edison visited Forty Myers in early 1885. He planned to find a warm retreat to escape the cold winters of his home base in West Orange, New Jersey. Along with friends, he made his way to Fort Myers from the . . . — — Map (db m281743) HM
Edison’s Small Sampling Grew into a Mighty Banyan Hammock
Edison, Ford, and Firestone formed the Edison Botanic Research Corporation in 1927 to find a natural source of rubber that could be grown and harvested in the United States. . . . — — Map (db m281046) HM
Thomas Edison befriended Ezra Gilliland when they were telegraph operators in Adrian, Michigan. Later, they became roommates and co-workers in Cincinnati, Ohio. Gilliland was known for his mechanical, technical, and sales expertise, helping Edison . . . — — Map (db m281752) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m282635) HM
In his initial plans for the property, Thomas Edison included a laboratory for his Florida estate. Though he anticipated leisure time, he also wanted a place to pursue inventing. The 1886 laboratory contained equipment for mechanical and chemical . . . — — Map (db m281629) HM
When Edison created plans for his Florida retreat in 1885, water was a major concern to supplement the shallow well at the existing Caretaker’s House. This may have been dug for the Summerlin family before Edison purchased the property.
By . . . — — Map (db m281342) HM
In his initial plans for the property, Edison included a laboratory for his Florida estate. Through he anticipated leisure time, he also needed a place to pursue inventing. Of the many experiments he worked on in this laboratory, one focused on a . . . — — Map (db m281553) HM
Seeking a Suitable Climate for Growing American Rubber
During the earliest decades of the 20th century, natural rubber was an important commodity used in a variety of products and industrial applications, especially in the U.S., where 71% . . . — — Map (db m281286) HM
Nature has been good to Lee County, one of the last frontiers to be settled in southwest Florida. Nestled between the Everglades and the Gulf of Mexico, the county includes a variety of interconnected ecosystems. Careful planning has preserved much . . . — — Map (db m105731) HM
In 1909, a major project was undertaken to install a fire control system at the Edison estate. Water for the system was supplied from a well on the east side of the property (across McGregor Boulevard) and directed to three large tanks located on . . . — — Map (db m90283) HM
Fort Myers, like many South Florida communities, developed during the last half of the 19th century. First Street (once called Front Street) became the heart of the new town, In 1866, Manuel A, Gonzalez and Joseph Vivas took up residence at the . . . — — Map (db m131368) HM
In this vicinity, Caloosa Indian villages were located in ancient times. Around this site, in the Seminole War of 1841-1842, a fort was established and named for Lieutenant John Harvie. The fort was re-established in 1850 and named Fort Myers, . . . — — Map (db m183545) HM
• Thomas and Mina both caught tarpon in the waters surrounding their Fort Myers estate, as did their son Charles. In a 1908 letter to Charles, Mina commented, "This morning I fished for tarpon and do you know I had 180 (pound) fish on my line and . . . — — Map (db m282392) HM
In Southwest Florida, it is often necessary to have storm water retention areas on developed properties. At Manatee Park, this water retention area was planted with wetland vegetation to provide wildlife habitat, improve aesthetics and help filter . . . — — Map (db m106677)
The Great Blue Heron (Ardea hernias) is a wetland bird that lives in the Slough year round. It is quite adaptable and can live in habitats like marshes, streams and lakes. The heron’s range is from Florida to the coastline of Alaska. As a top . . . — — Map (db m106512)
In 1914, Thomas Edison invited Henry Ford, wife Clara, and son Edsel to the Edison Florida estate. In 1916, the Fords purchased their Fort Myers estate, The Mangoes. The Ford family visited regularly with good friends and neighbors, Thomas and Mina . . . — — Map (db m89883) HM
Thomas Edison and Henry Ford first met in 1896 at a New York conference of the Edison Illuminating Companies. Ford worked as a mechanic at the Detroit Edison plant. The two were not reacquainted again until 1910, when Edison responded to Ford’s . . . — — Map (db m89885) HM
The Henry Ford Home was built in 1911 and is an example of the “American Bungalow” architectural style. From the exterior one sees the characteristics of cedar-shingle siding, wide covered porches, gabled metal roof, and dormers with decorative . . . — — Map (db m281773) HM
In the 1930's Mina Edison was noted by the News Press of Fort Myers for her outstanding collection of Japanese plants. Mina was inspired, as were many Americans, by the Japan Exhibit at the 1893 Expo of Chicago which she attended. The Japanese . . . — — Map (db m281541) HM
The tallest tree of the Amazon rainforest, the kapok can grow to more than 220 feet (67m) tall and more than 9 feet (2.7m) in diameter. The buttressed trunk adds additional width to help it stand upright in soft soil. The tree produces seed pods . . . — — Map (db m281299) HM
The Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia built #143 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1905. #143 was used to switch freight cars in rail yards around Charleston, South Carolina. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was the first railroad to . . . — — Map (db m90843) HM
Manatee Island, in the Caloosahatchee River, is hereby donated to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to inspire a renewed interest in land dedicated to the formation of the Caloosahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, established July 1, 1920, by . . . — — Map (db m106680) HM
Manatee Mating
Female manatees reach sexual maturity at age 3 but will not breed successfully until 6 to 10 years of age. Males are sexually mature at age of two. Manatee mating herds are made up of sexually mature males and female. Within . . . — — Map (db m106685) HM
Mangroves are tropical trees that grow along the coastline in mixed salt and freshwater, or estuarine environments. They live in wet soil, are highly salt tolerant and flourish in areas periodically submerged by tides. Florida is home to three . . . — — Map (db m108027) HM
Thomas Alva Edison
February 11, 1847 - October 18, 1931
Thomas Edison revolutionized everything from electricity to entertainment; even the process of invention itself. Edison gathered experts from various fields to work together . . . — — Map (db m281128) HM
Mina Miller married Thomas Alva Edison in 1886. This was the same year that the two began to create their winter estate in Fort Myers.
During their many years in Fort Myers, the Edison enjoyed creating areas for botanical research and family . . . — — Map (db m281098) HM
Mina Miller Edison, born July 6, 1865, had the distinction of being the daughter, wife, and mother of inventors. Her father, Lewis Miller, invented agricultural equipment like the Buckeye Reaper and its success allowed an upper-class . . . — — Map (db m281094) HM
Motor Generator
The Hertner Electric Company
Cleveland, Ohio
Serial No. 2528
15 hp 220v 30 60 Hz
37A 1750 RPM
400 C Continuous Duty
Throughout the history of Seminole Lodge various equipment was used to supply or produce . . . — — Map (db m281107) HM
When the "Wizard of Electricity" arrived in Fort Myers, the "bright lights of Broadway" were, literally and figuratively, very far away.
Edison used a variety of equipment to electrify his estate over the decades. Edison and Ezra Gilliland . . . — — Map (db m281116) HM
Mr. Edison loved his Bougainvillea planted next to his Electric Lab built the same time as his home in 1886. When the lab was disassembled in 1928 and displayed at Greenfield Village
in Deerfield Michigan. He wanted to save of the plant he called . . . — — Map (db m282393) HM
Manatees spend six to eight hours each day feeding. Manatees feed on more than 60 species of aquatic or semi-aquatic plants including sea grasses, mangrove leaves and water hyacinths. Manatee burn a great deal of energy to maintain their body . . . — — Map (db m108028) HM
Side A
Miss Eugenia Washington, great grandniece of President George Washington, was one of 3 Founders of National Society Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, June 7, 1898; Washington, D.C. in the year of the Spanish American . . . — — Map (db m183552) HM
Orchid Lane developed as a natural path from the mango trees that formed a line down both the Edison and Ford properties. Orchids are air plants, or epiphytes, which do not require soil to grow. They receive nutrients from the air, rainwater and . . . — — Map (db m281632) HM
Manatees aren’t the only animals that visit Manatee Park. A wide range of native Florida wildlife can be seen at the park. Some are just passing through, while others are full-time residents. What other wildlife do you see?
Black vulture . . . — — Map (db m106676) HM
“If it is agreeable to the town, I will have royal palms planted on both sides of the road." -Thomas Edison, in a 1907 letter to city leaders
The City of Palms
With the above words, Edison began an effort to . . . — — Map (db m282822) HM
The story of people and plants provides a continuous thread from the Calusa to early Estero Island settlers, and to the present and future generations. With all the great advances in science and technology, people still rely on natural resources to . . . — — Map (db m90988) HM
This high and dry habitat provides food and shelter for many species of animals among the shaded canopy, fallen logs and rich decaying leaf litter.
Pine flatwoods depend on prescribed fire to keep the canopy relative open, the understory in check, . . . — — Map (db m106686) HM
It is hard to imagine now, but when the earliest settlers arrived on the Mound the surrounding habitat was very different. Native plants dominated the landscape. Years would pass before the Estero Island settlers could profit from agriculture . . . — — Map (db m90985) HM
The Municipal Pleasure Pier, built in 1927 just west of where the Caloosahatchee Bridge is today, was part of a $300,000 recreation center which included a swimming pool, horseshoes and a dance floor. By 1943, the pilings were rotted and when the . . . — — Map (db m183549) HM
The manatee’s closest living relative is the elephant. They have a number of features in common. Manatees have a flexible prehensile lip that functions in a similar way to the trunk of an elephant. It grabs vegetation and places it in the animal’s . . . — — Map (db m106684) HM
How do I know if I can keep a fish?
Florida has more anglers than any other state. To protect our fisheries the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manage game fish using closed seasons, size limits and bag limits. Check . . . — — Map (db m106691) HM
The erection of this monument was sponsored by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Fort Myers Chapter, and completed in 1966 A.D. with the assistance of the citizens of Lee County in honor of the man for whom this county was named. — — Map (db m246210) WM
The scrub is a rare and unique habitat where ground cover is sparse due to the dry, low nutrient environment. Plants and animals living in the scrub have adapted to the harsh conditions. Gopher tortoise need sandy, dry land areas to create their . . . — — Map (db m106687)
World-famous inventor and businessman Thomas Edison visited Florida in March 1885 in order to escape the cold winter in New Jersey.
Initially staying in St. Augustine, the cold, wet weather encouraged Edison to go farther south. After . . . — — Map (db m281656) HM
Edison's winter home was completed in 1886, but continued to evolve through the years. Today it reflects the home's appearance around 1929. The first floor of the separate wing originally served as the kitchen and above it was the support staff . . . — — Map (db m282285) HM
The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is over 3,500 acres of wetland ecosystem, which measures 11 miles in length and averages 1/3 mile in width.
It is home to a diversity of plants and animals, a number of which are endangered. The preserve is an . . . — — Map (db m106518) HM
Wetlands like the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve were once considered to be a nuisance to “progress”. Many were drained and filled for agricultural and developmental purposes.
People have begun to realize that wetlands are valuable . . . — — Map (db m106516) HM
In 1910, Thomas Edison began construction on a swimming pool and a small bath house.
When finished, it became the first residential pool in Lee County. Edison hired a local company, W. R. Wallace and Company, to construct a 20-foot-wide . . . — — Map (db m281551) HM
Manatees are large, brownish-gray, seal-shaped marine mammals.
Adult manatees can grow up to 13 feet and weigh up to 3,000 pounds.
Female manatees are usually larger than males.
Skeleton not fat
A majority of a manatee’s body weight . . . — — Map (db m106678)
In December 1863, the Army post of Fort Myers, inactive since 1858, was reoccupied. The fort served as a supply depot for the Federal blockade squadron. Troops from the fort often raided Confederate supply depots in the state's interior, since . . . — — Map (db m208747) HM
• This area of the property was mostly underwater when the Edison family lived here. More than a decade after Mina Edison deeded the estate to the City of Fort Myers, a significant amount of "fill land" was added to the landscape. Originally, a . . . — — Map (db m282358) HM
Built in 1919, this reinforced concrete structure was designed to collect and store 40,000 gallons of rainwater for household use. It features 9-inch thick walls, a vaulted roof, and stepped parapet walls on the gable ends. The side walls are . . . — — Map (db m281344) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m281757) HM
Why do manatees visit Manatee Park?
Biologists believe the historic winter range of the manatee was centered in southern Florida with small groups spending the winter at a few natural springs in northern Florida. The construction of power . . . — — Map (db m106672) HM
The Caloosahatchee River was the main highway for travel and commerce for many years after the settlement of Fort Myers. Even before Fort Harvie was established in 1841 (later renamed Fort Myers, in 1850) and the first permanent settlers (led by . . . — — Map (db m183546) HM
The quest for rubber did not take place solely inside the laboratory. As Edison's project progressed, acres of research beds and a variety of structures filled the surrounding landscape.
A. Barn, 1903
This 50'x35' building featured two . . . — — Map (db m282419) HM
Though a manatee’s appearance is far from what you might see in your bathroom mirror, humans and manatee are more closely related than you might think.
Breathe Air
Manatees have lungs just like humans. When active, they surface every . . . — — Map (db m106679)
The Moonlight Garden was designed in 1928 by Ellen Biddle Shipman, one of the first female landscape architects in America. She specialized in enclosed gardens, full of drift beds where flowers of beauty bloomed in cycles throughout the year. . . . — — Map (db m281622) HM
Mina Edison decided to create a more traditional garden space after the original Fort Myers Laboratory was removed and sent to Dearborn, Michigan, in 1928. She asked preeminent landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman to design an enclosed garden . . . — — Map (db m281624) HM
South Florida Restoration Project:
Working to save an ecosystem at risk…
At one time, water moved through the Everglades in vast, shallow flow, which led Marjory Stoneman Douglas to call the Everglades: “River of Grass.” . . . — — Map (db m106673) HM
As the sun sets, many animals prepare to sleep for the night…and others are just waking up.
Theses two “shifts” help predators avoid competing with each other for food and space.
While we are at home sleeping, night time at the . . . — — Map (db m106523)
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