Where do I start. Today has been truly amazing. David and I arrived here in Fort Myers, Florida at the site of the historic Winter Estate homes of US industrial icons, Henry Ford & Thomas Edison. Because of their strong and enduring friendship, their homes were located side by side.
We arrived around 10:00am this morning because we had booked a tour that only takes place on a Thursday morning at 11:00am.
 |
| This photo is of Thomas Edison’s house - 'Seminole Lodge' |
The homes encompass more than 20-acres of historical building and gardens including the 1928 Edison Botanical Research Laboratory.
Inside-the-Homes Tours: This tour is a unique opportunity to take a sneak peek inside normally-closed off areas of Thomas Edison’s 'Seminole Lodge' and Henry Ford’s 'The Mangoes' homes.
Highlights: The Museum's tour includes many Galleries interpreting the lives of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and their families we experienced the exhibits of Edison inventions, Ford automobiles.
The famous Banyan Tree is located on the property. It's world renowned because Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone were working to find a natural source of rubber that could be grown in the United States. The Banyan tree was one of the 17,000 samples that were tested for Edison’s research.
In a photo that I took today Historical Documents reveal this Banyan tree was planted around 1927 and is understood to be one of the largest trees in the continental United States. This type of tree, Ficus benghalenis, produces a white milky sap (latex) that can be used to create rubber.
Together with his friends, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, Thomas Edison would attempt to solve a problem impacting America’s security and economy. Within a few short years, thousands of tests would be conducted in an international search for a plant that could be grown in the United States to produce a critical product – rubber.
The 'Into the Wild' tour explains what these three Vagabonds (Ford/Edison/John Burroughs) & how they would explore the Florida Everglades in a Model T Ford Ute, or as the Americans would say a 'pick-up'.
Their outings may have been a bit fancier than the average camping trip, involving dozens of staff members and even purpose-built camping vehicles, such as the 'Chuckwagon' that Ford had constructed to carry food and water for the campers, which is on display.
I could rave on here all day long about today’s events, however if you are interested in Henry Ford and Thomas Edison this Museum is not to be overlooked and is must to put on your ‘Bucket List’ adventures.
Tomorrow morning we depart Fort Myers and drive 147-miles to Stuart on the Atlantic coast of Florida, the Elliott Museum is there waiting for me to discover. This museum has the reputation of being the best AA Ford Museum in all of America.
My latest acquisition, my Model AA Ford truck that I have nick-named ‘Hoover’, will be very happy that I will be paying a special visit to his brothers & sisters here in Florida.
Then the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral is next up on the road trip list for a visit on Saturday.
Cheers for now.
Warbo
Inside-the-Homes Tours: This tour is a unique opportunity to take a sneak peek inside normally-closed off areas of Thomas Edison’s 'Seminole Lodge' and Henry Ford’s 'The Mangoes' homes.
Highlights: The Museum's tour includes many Galleries interpreting the lives of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and their families we experienced the exhibits of Edison inventions, Ford automobiles.
 |
| Interior of Thomas Edison’s house |
The famous Banyan Tree is located on the property. It's world renowned because Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone were working to find a natural source of rubber that could be grown in the United States. The Banyan tree was one of the 17,000 samples that were tested for Edison’s research.
 |
| View looking out from the balcony of one of the upper bedrooms from Thomas Edison's Cottage, towards the Caloosahatchee River |
In a photo that I took today Historical Documents reveal this Banyan tree was planted around 1927 and is understood to be one of the largest trees in the continental United States. This type of tree, Ficus benghalenis, produces a white milky sap (latex) that can be used to create rubber.
Together with his friends, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, Thomas Edison would attempt to solve a problem impacting America’s security and economy. Within a few short years, thousands of tests would be conducted in an international search for a plant that could be grown in the United States to produce a critical product – rubber.
 |
| Other tour guests standing around Thomas Edison’s dining room table with our tour guide Taylor, 3rd lass from the right. ‘Seminole Lodge’. |
The 'Into the Wild' tour explains what these three Vagabonds (Ford/Edison/John Burroughs) & how they would explore the Florida Everglades in a Model T Ford Ute, or as the Americans would say a 'pick-up'.
Their outings may have been a bit fancier than the average camping trip, involving dozens of staff members and even purpose-built camping vehicles, such as the 'Chuckwagon' that Ford had constructed to carry food and water for the campers, which is on display.
 |
| An Edison statue tribute beside the home's Banyan tree that is understood to be one of the largest trees of its type in the continental US. |
I could rave on here all day long about today’s events, however if you are interested in Henry Ford and Thomas Edison this Museum is not to be overlooked and is must to put on your ‘Bucket List’ adventures.
 |
| This Grand Piano was the one that Edison’s wife Mina would play in their house. |
Tomorrow morning we depart Fort Myers and drive 147-miles to Stuart on the Atlantic coast of Florida, the Elliott Museum is there waiting for me to discover. This museum has the reputation of being the best AA Ford Museum in all of America.
My latest acquisition, my Model AA Ford truck that I have nick-named ‘Hoover’, will be very happy that I will be paying a special visit to his brothers & sisters here in Florida.
Then the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral is next up on the road trip list for a visit on Saturday.
Cheers for now.
Warbo
No comments:
Post a Comment