Edison & Ford Winter Estates

Join us for incredible private tours of the Ford Plantation, Richmond Hill Historic District, Savannah Historic District, and much more. This visit will include a Richmond Hill private trolley tour, a visit to the Richmond Hill History museum and Ford's Richmond Hill Plantation. In Savannah, we will take a private trolley tour of historic Savannah, and visit the Franklin Square Market and Maritime Museum as well as the Savannah History Museum. This unique VIP tour includes transportation and admission to…

When school is out, the "Wild Wizard" is in! Explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and topics in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), history, and the natural world. In this session, understand the science behind survival from designing shelters to filtering water and building solar ovens. Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

This exhibit will explore the difference between alternating and direct current; and the relationship between Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse. Chief Curator, Brent Newman, will give a gallery talk on these relationships in the context of 19th century history and science during the opening event. Attendees will receive a complimentary glass of beer or champagne, light hors' d' oeuvres will be provided and a pianist will play period music. Admission is free for Edison Ford members (does not include admission to…

The winter home site of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford was also home to numerous orchids that hung from the fruit-bearing Mango trees. Henry Nehrling and John Kunkel Small visited the Edisons and gave them gifts of orchids. Orchids were Mina Edison's favorite flowers and she attached them to trees on her Fort Myers property, just as they grew wild in the Everglades. Today, we continue to attach orchids to trees and throughout the site, there is usually an orchid…

Mina Edison was a gracious hostess and concerned with the well being of children and the community. Following in her tradition, this two-hour etiquette class will teach etiquette and social skills. Students will gather at the Edison Caretaker's House for a lesson in good manners. This class teaches proper introduction, handshakes and dining etiquette during a three-course meal. Each student will receive a workbook and certificate of completion. Classes are taught by Suzanne Willi who teaches etiquette classes at Ritz-Carlton…

When school is out, the "Wild Wizard" is in! Explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and topics in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), history, and the natural world. Don't miss this Halloween-themed mad scientist boot camp! Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

Join us for a brand new homeschool offering: a series of day-long camps designed to expose students in grades 1-6 to all that Edison Ford has to offer! In this session, students become familiar with the site as they tour, tinker, and innovate their way across the property learning from experts that make history come alive! Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

On October 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Edison and Ford Winter Estates will host the annual "Airing of the Quilts" quilt show. Dozens of quilts from the Quilters' Guild will be on display, suspended from clotheslines between trees and select antique quilts from the 1880s to 1940s will be on display inside the Thomas Edison house, Henry Ford house and the Edison guest house. Quilters' Guild participants will also have quilts available for sale. Quilts have a long…

Join us for a brand new homeschool offering: a series of day-long camps designed to expose students in grades 1-6 to all that Edison Ford has to offer! In this session, students learn about mechanical advantage and design through live demonstrations, trial and error, and teamwork. Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

Join us for a brand new homeschool offering: a series of day-long camps designed to expose students in grades 1-6 to all that Edison Ford has to offer! In this session, students explore the scientific journeys of Edison's impactful life from his early experiments with electricity to his search for rubber. Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

Our sponsor this year is Humana and Best Value. For anyone who enjoys gardening, this is a must-see event! Dozens of plant and garden vendors will have booths under the Banyan and other historic trees all around the museum and lab. This is an opportunity to shop for hard-to-find plants that grow successfully in Southwest Florida. The Edison Garden Shoppe will also have many plants, trees, herbs and garden-related item available for sale. Plant vendors and Edison Ford horticulturalists will…

When school is out, the "Wild Wizard" is in! Explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and topics in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), history, and the natural world. In this session, build and explore with simple machines and mechanisms. Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

When school is out, the "Wild Wizard" is in! Explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and topics in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), history, and the natural world. In this session, take flight with the physics and design of airborne objects! Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

When school is out, the "Wild Wizard" is in! Explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and topics in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), history, and the natural world. In this session, participate in creative 3D design challenges! Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

When school is out, the "Wild Wizard" is in! Explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and topics in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), history, and the natural world. In this session, participate in creative 3D design challenges! Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

When school is out, the "Wild Wizard" is in! Explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and topics in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), history, and the natural world. In this session, explore engineering in this exciting day camp for girls only! Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

In this brand new six-part Saturday afternoon series, students are introduced to the Raspberry Pi, a tiny but powerful computer that will fuel their creative DIY projects spanning electronics, computer science, robotics, and coding with Python, HTML, and JavaScript. In this session, students explore the hardware and software of the small computer and electronics. Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

In this brand new six-part Saturday afternoon series, students are introduced to the Raspberry Pi, a tiny but powerful computer that will fuel their creative DIY projects spanning electronics, computer science, robotics, and coding with Python, HTML, and JavaScript. In this session, learn how to code on the Raspberry Pi using the dynamic software language of Python as students begin to code electronics and more. Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

When school is out, the "Wild Wizard" is in! Explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and topics in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), history, and the natural world. In this session, learn the science behind a root beer float and other culinary queries in this delicious day camp! Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

When school is out, the "Wild Wizard" is in! Explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and topics in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), history, and the natural world. In this session, explore cartography and geography in a property-wide scavenger hunt. Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.

In this brand new six-part Saturday afternoon series, students are introduced to the Raspberry Pi, a tiny but powerful computer that will fuel their creative DIY projects spanning electronics, computer science, robotics, and coding with Python, HTML, and JavaScript. In this session, students leverage their increasing skills to code various simple video games. Advance registration is required. Register online on our website or contact Leeanne Criswell at 239-334-7419.