25 Feb 26 Went to the Edison-Ford Winter Estates to to fill an otherwise boring day Been here before on 2-3 occasions. I don't know why but I wasn't as impressed this time as I was on prior occasions. The place looks almost the same but somehow it seemed a little different. Nevertheless it's part of American history and I still enjoyed my self guided tour. I might return again as there isn't that much to do in SWF except dine and hit the beaches. Still , it was interesting to see two tycoons buying homes close together so as to maintain and enjoy their friendship. Their homes brought back memories of my childhood when we had an "Ice Box" in lieu of a refrigerator. They had a wood burning fire place for heat , we had a coal stove. American Middle Class families now live better than the rich in the 1920's. Progress ?! The place was filled with tourist on the day of my visit and it was obvious that for many it was their first time visiting the Estates. Ah , the lives of the Rich and Famous ... and the beat goes on read more

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A must go to when in Ft Myers. Very educational. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, especially Megan. I belong to the Phonograph Historical Society and recently my wife and I acquired a beautiful, working 121 year old original Edison Phonograph with wax cylinders. Who knew Edison had over 2,000 patents! And the Ford estate was spectacular with all the motors & automobiles. Model T, Model A , Caddy ect. An afternoon well spent with our out of town guests. Then, after working up an appetite, head on over to the Ford Garage for amazing burgers. read more

Edison & Ford Winter Estates - Museums Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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This historic site offers a unique glimpse into the lives and legacies of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, and how their friendship helped shape innovation in America. The estates have a large, free parking lot, and admission for the self-guided tour is $28 per person (guided tours are available for an additional fee). The self-guided option includes a QR code to download an app, which provides audio commentary at various stops along the tour. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the tour begins on the opposite side of the estate, taking you through the property's historic homes and buildings. Each stop offers insight into the personal lives and groundbreaking work of Edison and Ford, and it's fascinating to see the spaces where they spent their winters together. One of the highlights for us was the museum. I knew Edison was an inventor, but I didn't fully realize the sheer number of inventions credited to him -- everything from the phonograph to an early voting machine. There's also a fascinating display showing the many versions of the lightbulb throughout history and how it evolved into what we know today. We spent quite a bit of time here, soaking in both the history and the scenery. Before leaving, we stopped by the gift shop, which had a fantastic selection of unique and thoughtful items. If you're looking for one-of-a-kind gifts -- especially for those hard-to-shop-for people -- this is a perfect place to pick something up. 3 stars is mostly for the price, $28 is pretty steep for a audio guide. Tours are more. Although I learned some new things it could have been $10-15 and it would easily be 5 stars but $56 for 2 people is a bit ridiculous since is self guided. read more

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A beautiful place! The museum is very well done- Everything is so interesting! The grounds are so nice! We really enjoyed the guided tour- well worth the $$ and there is a nice self guided tour inside. I came with a group and we all thought it was well worth the cost! We stayed around a little longer to see all the plants and enjoy the grounds- read more

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I took the guided tour with my mom. We paid 35 per person for the tour, which includes admission to the museum and gardens. The tour began at 12, and we had some time, so we visited some museum exhibits while we waited. We were able to see some Edison and Ford exhibits being displayed, as well as a demonstration of the old phonographs. At 12, the tour started. It was mostly an outdoor tour of the gardens and estates, with us having to cross a major road as well. Our tour guide did an excellent job of explaining Edison and Ford, the estates and gardens, and the history as well. We had nice shaded stops while our guide explained everything, as well as some seating area to rest too. The tour was very informative and interesting. It took almost an hour and half, but was well worth it. There are other tours as well, including a car tour where they fire up the old Ford models. The museum was spacious with lots of exhibits. The displays were great with lots of information of the inventions and products. It was air conditioned as well, which was great to beat the heat. Unfortunately, there were not much to interact as most had signs not to touch, so kids may not enjoy as much. The gardens were wonderful with lots of trees and plants. Being next to the river made it scenic. There were some fruits in the trees, with some being sold in the garden store. We could not go inside the estates and some were being renovated, but they had windows that we could take a peak inside. I loved the pianist playing the piano. There were some shops to buy gifts and souvenirs, as well a small store to get snacks. While the gardens were outdoors, there were some shades and even a lightning warning system to go indoors if a lighting strikes. The staff were quite friendly and helpful. They answered all the questions we had, and provided great demonstrations as well. They seem to take pride of their volunteer work. Parking was free and pretty easy. My mom and I definitely enjoyed our tour. While it was quite a bit of a walk in the hot sun, it was very enjoyable and we had time to rest in shades. The museum was also very nice and informative, but I wished there were more hands on exhibits. This is a must visit in Fort Myers, especially if you are a fan of Edison and Ford. read more

This was on my list to visit and finally made it and stopped about 2 months ago. We were able to buy tickets once we got there with no wait and ready to explore. The museum is broken down in areas to walk to and see. The house, the pool, the gardens, the lab, the cars and a museum of the inventions and history of both families. It is a good option around the area to learn about history and see the site. I thought the house was going to be bigger and that you would be able to go in, but it is not allowed. It does not take much time to go around the house, museum and lab, but you can stay as long as you need. read more

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Beautiful grounds to tour that are rich in history, includes various tropical plant species, and paints a detailed summary of Fort Meyer's past. This is a must-see stop while visiting, especially if weather isn't the hottest! Most of it is outside, so wouldn't recommend visiting on a rainy day and be prepared to fight over parking spots/circle for minutes. Tickets are $pendy, but I think still worth it! read more

Edison & Ford Winter Estates - Beautiful trees - Museums Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

This museum was worth the stop. Adult is $28/person. For a guided tour it is more. The grounds are absolutely beautiful! Many cool trees and plants. The buildings are very cool just be aware you can't go inside. They have a gift shop on site. It was very neat to learn about all the inventions and patents made. Very educational experience. Plenty of parking which was free. read more

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Quaint step back to the winter residence of Edison and Ford. The compound is well preserved with several buildings dating back to the 1880's. Both inventors shared the estate grounds during their heyday of inventions. There are self tours and guided tours. We did the self tour with an app to assist in your visit. Self tour for adults was $28 each and guided was $35." for adults. Check website for children. Parking on site at no extra fee. read more

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3/3/25: Three of us stopped in the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. Its location is 13 acres along the Caloosahatchee River . The self guided tour was like $30. The docent tour was $35 pp. The five extra dollars was absolutely worth it. We were escorted through the winter estate of Thomas and Mina Edison in Fort Myers, Florida. You can peek in the estate. It's not anything out of architectural digest, as the Edison's were very modest. One section of the estate displays Edison's extensive lab. Loved seeing the vast gardens and the beautiful banyan trees. (Be sure to wear mosquito repellent during your visit). In addition, it was exciting to see statues of Edison and his wife Mina and their antique automobiles on the premises. A small snack café is available on the grounds. There's restrooms in the beginning of the tour and about 80% through the tour. A decent sized parking lot is available on the premises. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates is a must see when in the Fort Myers area. read more

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Very nice grounds and interesting house, and affordable to visit. The best attraction in Fort Meyer's for us. There wasn't much competition as it was mostly over priced restaurants downtown, and there were no arcades of anything at the beach, just endless condos being rebuilt or retrofitted after Hurricane Ian They have a plant store here, and I was able to get a perenial I have admired around Leesburg but never seen offered for purchase anywhere else, deep red flowers with yellow pistils. read more

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It was better than I expected! Good museum, well preserved homes, and a cute coffee shop on site. read more

Edison & Ford Winter Estates - Walking path in front of Edison house - Museums Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

March 2026 - We toured this place on an early nice Sunday morning ... not too busy. We paid $35 a piece for a guided tour ... this was only $7 above the base cost. We spend just over 90 minutes with a very knowledgeable guide primarily touring the two homes and gardens. We walked around the museum and lab on our own. This is a very interesting place considering much of the structures are over 100 years old and built before Fort Myers was discovered by the Northerners. Check it out read more

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There is not much that I can contribute to the knowledge pool that already has been so well filled by others. On the one hand, I respect Edison, his work ethic, and certain elements of the museum. On the other hand, I don't find value in viewing the residential complex, in seeing, for example, Edison's dining room table and imagining the people who sat around it with him. I feel the same way about the historic homes of other famous Americans and European nobles. The things I most enjoyed here (as in similar places) were the outdoor plantings. read more

Beautiful grounds and nursery to walk around and check out the plants .They also have a museum but we didn't have time to do that also. read more

Edison & Ford Winter Estates - Museums Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

This place is ok. I've been here twice. Back in 2021 I thought we walked through the house but I guess not. This museum is mostly outdoor. You get to peek inside but you don't go inside. I would recommend a guided tour. There isn't much to do in fort Myers's so this a place is a nice time to pass the time. I think my husband would've enjoyed this place. read more

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The tour guide was very nice and informative, but we've toured many properties and this was not a favorite. We're glad we did it, but didn't love it. You can't actually go inside the homes. You view the interior of the rooms from windows. There's not much to say bc it was pretty uneventful. We usually leave home tours talking about them and what we loved, etc. We've gone to many in many different states and this would be our least favorite. The property was beautiful though. It was $70 for two of us to do the guided tour. read more

The Edison & Ford Winter Estates were worth a stop. The adult tickets for a self guided tour are28$ and for a guided tour was 35$. We did the self-guided tour and spent about an hour and a half at the museum. We walked the gardens, the two houses and the small museum/workshop. Everything is well kept up and I enjoyed learning all the different tropical plants and seeing the estates. The reason I only gave a 4-star rating is because the house tours, you are not actually allowed inside the houses, you just get to peek in the doorways/windows which doesn't give you the same immersive feeling as being inside the house plus you do not get to see the upstairs. Additionally Edison's servants quarters (the only building they let you in), has no furniture or physical objects in it. It is setup as an art gallery. I was also hoping there would be more cars on the property given it was Henry Ford's estate. We still enjoyed our time there non the less and I would recommend the museum to anyone looking to do something different for a couple of hours. read more

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Edison Ford Winter Estates is excellent. The staff is knowledgeable and discounts are available to Members at all kinds of Botanical Gardens and interesting venues. Join and you won't be disappointed by the plethora of knowledge the great staff has!!! read more

I'll be honest. The Edison/Ford estate is some place I knew we should visit, but I wasn't chomping at the bit to go. With out-of-town visitors, I subscribed to the adage, 'no better time than now.' And boy, am I happy we went. I'm also glad that my friends insisted on the docent-led tour. Our guide, Dave W., was a wealth of information. And funny! I now know that palm 'trees' aren't trees. Who would think they're classified as grass! Curiously, Edison was 90% deaf; he and his wife Mina communicated by Morse code. Interesting, particularly when you consider he invented the phonograph! The grounds are spectacular. You can peek into the homes. Edison's "electroliers" are gorgeous. His lab, extensive. No denying that the men were geniuses. Also no denying their antisemitism. If you're in Fort Myers, make time to visit. The earlier you arrive, the fewer crowds you'll encounter. $30 a person, including the tour. read more

Edison & Ford Winter Estates - Our host, Mr. Edison, and me. Dig those banyan trees! - Museums Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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The estates are quite astounding. I am happy that I stopped in for a tour. I opted for the self guided tour and there's lots to explore on the extensive property. I love the openness of the property, views of the waterway and trees. I can only imagine this place was a sight to see in its glory days. If you're in the area I would recommend visiting and learning some of the history of the area. read more

We went in December for the Christmas lights. Beautiful historic mansion right on the Caloosahatchee. The grounds are absolutely amazing. We had already been to several different Christmas light displays in Naples and Fort Myers but each one is unique and I still enjoyed this one. Love seeing Edison's Pond that Henry Ford built for him historic and beautiful!. read more

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Whoever knew that Thomas Edison and Henry Ford were friends?! AND that they bought homes all but side-by-side in Fort Myers?! AND that those homes and grounds have been turned into a *totally* reasonably priced - and fascinating - tourist attraction! The botanical gardens, the history, their *innovations* (like a camper-car and a calliope car) would be right there to see (but not touch)! Parking was plentiful, I've never seen such CLEAN bathrooms, and the GIFT SHOP had something for everyone! Bamboo, huge Kapok tree, numerous giant Banyan trees, stag horn ferns: but my favorite was the "Edison Light Bulb Flower" - SO cool! We took the guided tour (only $5 more than the $25 price of admission) and it was money SO well spent! We learned how two homes were built as mirror images (why pay for 2 different floor plans when they can be mirror images). About one of the first swimming pools and how the efficient water system worked. About the paving of the road and planting of palm trees all along the paved roads. Truly a destination to be re-visited! read more

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Great museum and we had a wonderful tour by our tour guide Scott. Just an amazing place of many cool exhibits and a pretty spot. We spent about 3-4 hours which was enough time to cover just about everything but if you like to see and read everything you may need more time. But certainly a great museum to visit if you are in the area! read more

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I've lived here for 39 years and every time I go to the Edison and Ford home I remember how much I love it. Very educational and now it's decorated for Christmas. Don't miss it! read more

It's a wonder place well preserved piece of history. I could spend all day there looking at all the things available to view. We went during the Christmas lights display. I would go earlier to see more of it in daylight hours. So many botanical items to admire and read about. read more

Edison & Ford Winter Estates - Museums Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

Just like I remember! While in town we decided to visit the homes since it had been over 10 years since I last seen them. The homes themselves are in excellent preserved condition and not much has changed. The museum was slightly different but still fun to view. I had three children under 6 and although they enjoyed checking everything out there is not much for young kids to interact with. Maybe they could put a lab play area in the future for little minds to explore. read more

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A visit to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Ft. Myers had been on my "bucket list" for almost five years. And thanks to the generosity of a long-time friend, we both were able to recently tour the estates. Beautiful grounds, picturesque setting on the river. Given our schedule, we opted for the self-guided tour. Sufficient informative signage to support a self-guided tour. Recommend 90 to 120 mins on-site. One small nit: Need more disabled parking space near the estate entry. read more

First class historic site, grounds, and museum. Not to be missed. Who knew?! So glad we visited.

The tour guide took us back in time, made us feel like we knew Edison & Ford. He knew answers to all the questions the group had. read more

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Beautiful grounds and interesting museum. Can spend extra to take a guided tour but plenty in the self-guided tour included with regular admission. read more

Edison & Ford is a must-see when visiting Ft Myers! It's history mixed with beautiful scenery. You can explore the estates on your own or with a tour guide. We chose the tour guide option. Shout-out to our guide, Isaac, who provided an awesome and informative tour. You visit the entire property and have the opportunity to see inside both homes. I learned so much I'd never heard of regarding the lives of both Edison and Ford. The tour lasts a little over an hour, but I could have definitely spent more time walking around on my own. There is also a museum with more history and artifacts. You want to give yourself at least an hour to explore that. As a bonus, you can watch a short presentation on hurricane history and how the estates are protected. read more

Beautiful grounds and a step back in history! The museum is amazing and the houses make you feel like you're back in time.

For $25 per adult. You can take a self guided tour of the Edison and Ford winter estate. If your ever I. This area it is a must see destination with loads of history and culture. Beautiful place to walk around and virtually step back in time if you will to a place and time when these amazing people were invented things we take for granted today. There are loads of facts and plants, gardens trees that Edison was using to invent rubber. It's was just fascinating to me to learn how they figured it all out! It is a must see destination read more

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Did the Thomas Edison , Henry Ford tour today. Got to see their summer homes and gardens. Our tour guide was Bailey, and she was super informative. We have lived here three years and I have wanted to do this for a while. Tour is 30.00 a person and is well worth it. Funds go to maintain the homes and grounds, some had damage from Hurricane Ian. This is a great way to spend and afternoon for locals and tourists alike. Then head to downtown Ft Myers for a Mason Lobster roll, or pizza at Capone 's or a any number of great eateries. This tour was magnificent and it's like a scene out of Peter Pan , it's so gorgeous, but it's amazing to think one of America's great inventors lived there as well as an automotive icon. I loved it and you will too. Gift shop to purchase memorabilia, as well as plants and other gift items. Gotta go. read more

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I spent a few hours here enjoying the gardens and history of this spot. It was a pleasant way to pass the time. Good for laid back adults, children would probably be bored. The gardens are simple and there is a nursery to buy plants on site. The houses are interesting, you can't walk through them without buying a special tour, by you can see most of the inside from the outside. The on-site museum was cool. I did not appreciate how large a Nickelodeon is until I saw it in person. read more

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Rude, awful experience. Had a friend visiting us from Uganda that wanted to see this estate. Pre-Paid $125 online around 3:40 and arrived at 4:35 due to parking lot gate being shut early and construction in Mcgregor. Had to park at Pinchers and walk. When we arrived we were told that we were too late and could not enter. However lots of people entering and walking around. Apparently they do not issue wristbands after 4:30 even though website only states what time you need to purchase tickets by. Experience ended with a staff member accusing my husband of stealing wristbands. Smh!!!! Beyond rude and insulting. And disappointed that this is how they treat consumers that have already paid. read more

Bring your ID at Christmas. You have to prove you're a resident or they are ripping you off. We had to park a mile away. I left my purse in the car and they refused to give me instate rate. I had my electric and water bill on my phone. Super rude staff. Funny thing is we were here a month ago and they didn't give two shits if we were residents or not. Greedy greedy place. Really sad read more

We went to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, because we had time to kill before our flight. The tickets at $25/person may seem like a lot, but its going to a good cause and it was nice to step back into history and learn a little bit about the lives of these two legendary men. Who knew they were even best bud?!?! The grounds were beautiful and all the rooms in the homes were decorated for the holidays. We followed the self-guided tour easily accessible via an app (highly recommend downloading the app). It took us through Edison's main house and guesthouse as well as Ford's Estate. There is also a garage that exhibits some of Ford's antique vehicles. I was really impressed by the architecture and design of both homes as well as the magnificent gardens and ground. Some of the plants were imported from other countries, such as the mango tree and Mysore Fig tree (both from India). In the end, we were glad we took the tour and recommend it to others interested in a snippet of history. read more

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Many years ago we did the tour of the estates but darn if I could really remember any of it so we did it again on this visit. It is $25 per person for the self guided tour. They now have an app (of course) that you play at each stop with a recording relevant to the history of the houses and grounds. I found the museum to be of great interest covering both Edison and Ford and their joint venture here in Fort Myers. I could have spent more time reading all of the materials. The docents in the museum were very friendly and ready to talk about any of the exhibits. The grounds themselves are beautiful especially given all of the exotic plantings. If you just want to see the botanical gardens you don't even need to pay since they are free and adjacent to the parking lots. Definitely worth a couple hours of your time. read more

Edison & Ford Winter Estates - Museum inside - Museums Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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