Edison and Ford Winter Estates (EFWE) will celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence with a series of “Step into History” presentations starting on June 29, and ending with honoring Mina Edison’s birthday and special behind the scenes tours on July 6. Historians will present on a variety of topics, celebrating 250 years of innovation, courage, and patriotism.
Throughout the site, patriotic décor and music will be evident. In the museum, five new panels will be displayed, featuring Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, their most important patents and projects, their wives, and information about Edison’s involvement in the Naval Consulting Board during WWI and Ford’s arsenal of democracy efforts during WWII. Patriotic bunting will be displayed on the historic homes and fences.
The gardens will also feature patriotic symbols. The Ford citrus grove features a variety of citrus trees, including the orange blossom, which is Florida’s state flower. The citrus grove will be accented with caladiums to acknowledge Florida as the caladium capital of the world. Visitors can also tour the Florida native plant garden and imagine how the property may have looked 250 years ago. In addition, Mina Edison will be honored with a hibiscus feature at the Moonlight Garden.
Presentations will be offered each day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.:
Monday, June 29
Henry Ford’s Tri Motor
Let There Be Light, Edison’s Domestic Lighting Distribution System
Tuesday, June 30
Here Comes the Train! Fort Myers Gets a Railroad
General George Armstrong Custer
Wednesday, July 1
How the Menge Brothers Transformed Fort Myers
Molly Pitcher and Women of the Revolution
Thursday, July 2
Electrifying Fort Myers
1776
Friday, July 3
Cracker Cuisine
Women Soldiers of the Civil War
Saturday, July 4
In Defense of Fort Myers
Edison and Ford and the First World War
Then, on July 6, Mina Edison’s (Thomas Edison’s wife) 161st birthday will be honored. Throughout the day, historians will give special American history presentations, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors will be able to interact with “Thomas Edison” and “Uncle Sam” living history characters. A special Inside-the-Homes Tour will be offered at 10 a.m., and Behind-the-Gates Edison Laboratory Tours will be held at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Edison and Ford Winter Estates is an official stop on the America 250 Florida road trip map and the only stop within Lee County. A large sign is installed near the main parking lot for those wanting to document their stop with a selfie. The Florida Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial road trip map can be viewed at https://america250fl.com/roadtrip/.
Tickets for self-guided tours are $28 (free for EFWE members) and may be purchased at edisonFord.org. History presentations are included with admission. Tickets for the specialty Inside-the-Homes Tours are $50, and the Behind-the-Gates Edison Laboratory Tours are $40; those tickets should be purchased at the ticket counter. EFWE members will receive 50% off on tickets for the Inside-the-Homes Tours, and the member price for the Laboratory Tour is $30. Specialty tours are for adults and children at least seven years old. Visit EdisonFord.org for additional information about the historic site.
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