Edison and Ford Winter Estates Reviews

Tough to see this all in one trip. WE had a fair amount of rude guests around us that made some of the sites difficult to read, see and enjoy. Not the staff's fault, just the way people are through the holidays...People touching the cars and some of the items that clearly said "DO NOT TOUCH" on them.

As far as the Estate- we loved the huge Banyan trees, original swimming pool, amazing laboratory & Maine built homes. The story is a fascinating one & anyone who loves a bit of history - this visit is a must. Combing OLD Florida with the likes of Ford, Edison, the Firestones, Merck and others it has all been well preserved.

Being interested in both Edison and Ford we looked forward to visiting their winter estates. We took the $30/adult guided tour of the estates. Our guide Kris was very good, informative and engaging. While you cannot go into the homes, you can look through the plexiglass covered doorways. The grounds themselves are beautiful, gardens well manicured and filled with trees, plants, flowers of all kinds. The museum was good though not very organized as the information was scattered in various rooms. The rubber making lab was interesting to see. There are cars to see but not many. The gift shop and garden shop had many nice items and plants. There is a small food truck and a restaurant within walking distance adjacent to the grounds. We enjoyed the 3 hrs spent here, go early as the line was long by 1pm!

We immensely enjoyed the homes and gardens. Such interesting history and beautiful landscaping. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was the audio app was glitchy.

We downloaded the app prior to arriving. It gave you a good overview of the property as you walked around - but seemed rather short to me. Some museums give you options if you want to hear more press a button so you can learn more about a particular topic. The property and homes were well maintained.

We walked from our Hibiscus House Bed and Breakfast. The grounds are incredible with over 750 varieties of plants. The properties are on the Caloosahachie River providing breathtaking scenery. Our tour guide Tim did a wonderful job. As a retired teacher he provided wonderful details to make the tour very enjoyable. The buildings are amazing. This area is truly something Ft. Myers should be proud of.
We would certainly visit again.

Make sure you plan to go with enough time to enjoy all there is to see at the Edison Ford Estates. Wear comfortable shoes and if you go in the summer months- be prepared with rain gear, an umbrella would help, unless there is zero rain in the forecast. We got soaked, typical Florida downpour. The grounds are very beautiful and they even sell plants at very reasonable prices. The historical information and pieces they have are remarkable.

First off, make sure you give yourself plenty of time here. We spent almost the entire day exploring this place and still feel like we could have used more time.

We did the Monday morning automobile tour, which we’d highly recommended, even if you’re not particularly a “car person”. Our tour guide was ridiculously knowledgeable and full of information about the cars in the museum. The tour took a couple hours, and was full of interesting information you’d never get just looking at the cars yourself.

The museum and estate is full of interesting exhibits revolving around the lives and friendship of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, including Edison’s labs, Ford’s cars, the estates of both men, and much, much more. There was even a section of baseball memorabilia owned by Edison, which really appealed to a baseball fan like me.

There is also a large botanical area that has been curated by Edison’s wife. My wife especially loved this area. It includes exotic trees and plants from around the world.

We’d highly recommend the Edison and Ford Museum and Estates, but make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore.

-The PowerTrippers

Definitely stop here and spend part of your day learning about Ford and Edison! You get to see inside their homes and learn SO much information, from what their personalities were like to how they spent their time at these homes to what they were like as businessmen. I am not what you would call a history buff- my husband is so I initially went for him; but I found myself fascinated by the entire experience! We would definitely recommend taking the guided tour around the grounds; you will learn SO much more than if you just do a self-guided tour. Our guide was a former teacher and he was super knowledgeable and held your interest throughout the entire one hour spent with him!

LOVED IT! VERY BEAUTIFUL! Very historical! GRET tour! GREAT history. This was were mostly Edison and his family spent a few months of the year and Henry Ford, after becoming good friends with Edison ended up buying a house next to Edison. The plant life was extraordinary. There was a guided tour of about 70 minutes and an extensive museum of Edison and Ford. Highly recommended.

Our experience was only dampened by the non-stop rain of the day but everything was so very interesting. Very extensive museum. We did the self-guided tour which was very effective and easy to follow. Fascinating lives these two men led!

Was like a time machine, so much to see and learn, the homes and grounds are so beautiful, the museum is amazing and the work shop just gives you shivers, to think of the incredible minds at work, the innovations, history being made! Lots of insight into the families as they were, just people too! Travel tip: don't pick up fruit from the ground there, even if it's everywhere, there are signs posted saying please do not do this, lol, I saw the signs too late, had a pocket full of kumquats...

Having bought tickets for my wife and 4 children, we stepped into the spacious museum.

3 busy-body employees who were within 2 feet of each other and doing nothing yelled from about 100 feet away that we needed to put our masks on, despite being practically the only ones on tour and nobody near us.

We proceeded to put on masks and continued the tour. These employees apparently were tasked solely with harassing people. Every 5 minutes they would find us to inspect the level of mask wearing by the kids and demand one of them wear the mask better and complain loudly about it as they walked away. I was in a separate room more than 100 feet away where I continued to hear them loudly carry on with each other about it. When my kids stepped outside, they locked the doors behind them, more than 15 minutes before close.

At that point, I yelled back at them and eventually demanded a refund, which they refused. Just terrible, rude and unprofessional all the way around.

we paid a little extra and did the "Inside the Homes" tour and it was well worth the money paid. The guide was very informative and the extra details really provide an in depth look at the lives of 2 of the greatest minds in the history of our country.

Worth your time to visit, won't be disappointed. History, homes, gardens, laboratory, museum, pool. Very accommodating, places to sit along the way, overlooks water, restful.

In my opinion a way to separate unknowing tourists and their money. $25 per adult to walk around the grounds and peer into the Edison and Ford houses, which are nothing special.

The tickets for the tour is pricey. I wish you could go in the buildings a little closer or see the upstairs. The tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. The museum had a lot to see. Overall, a good stop and visit.

The grounds are lovely despite some residual hurricane damage. The residences were beautiful , inviting and unpretentious. The small museum and cars added to the experience. So, what’s not to like???
For starters, that audio tour added to our phones for the self guided tour. It might have been easier if I were 3 handed. Unfortunately, my right hand held my handbag. My left hand held a cane which I will need for a short while. So how do I balance this with my phone without dropping it and breaking it? Beats me. Even more annoying, the audio tour kept jumping back to the first stop which I must have ultimately heard 5 times. And when we skipped stops and did not wander sequentially, we could not fast forward or back the audio easily. I finally gave up on the audio tour.
The residences could only be admired from the outside but the rooms were visible through either glass or maybe plexiglass. No problem there. But for whatever reason, each see through door had a white strip that just happened to be at my eye level thus necessitating that I either had to stoop or stand way up on my tippy toes to admire the interior. Annoying!

We loved the Edison-Ford estates but when we had finished we were hungry and somewhat tired. We weren’t looking forward to getting back in the car and driving to a restaurant - then my wife discovered the “secret entrance” to Pinchers restaurant right next door to the Edison home. To get there, go beyond the pavilion to the right of the house and keep following the short walk. There is a planned break in the fence and you walk into the building labeled Edison-Ford. Walk through it and you’ll see the stairs to the restaurant on the left as well as an elevator. We sat on the outside deck, had a wonderful lunch and decided that this was our favorite part of the experience!

Beautiful property! We loved the history and that we could leisurely walk around at our own pace. The gift shop is so cute and has a lot of nice things.

We vsited the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford on the same weekend as we visited far more imposing estate of John Ringling (of circus fame) in nearby Sarasota. The contrast was remarkable - Ringling's mansion was huge and elegantly appointed. By comparison both Edison's and Ford's homes, while still very nice for the early 1900s, were far more relaxed and informal. Unlike Ringling's Ca' d'Zan, visitors do not actually tour the interiors of the homes, but rather peer into them from the outside which we found a little odd (they are fairly small houses, so one still see's a lot of the interiors, but it still isn't quite the same as actually experiencing the interiors themselves).

The grounds are nicely kept, and there's an interesting museum highlighting some of the inventions by both men as well as their personal friendship (including a fascinating exhibit on their famed camping trips). Also on the grounds is the research laboratory formed by Edison, Ford, and tire magnet Harvey Firestone in the late 1920s to find domestic plants that could supply rubber for American industry to replace foreign produced natural rubber. This was Thomas Edison's final research project as he died just a few years later in 1931. The lab's work was eventually handed over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

We spent an enjoyable couple of hours here visiting the buildings, museum, and just walking the grounds.

If you only have a short time to spend in Fort Myers, spend it at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. There is something for not only the car enthusiasts, but also those interested in fauna from not only south Florida but other parts of the tropical world. There are inventions on display, the original laboratory of a Thomas Edison, the insides of both family homes and beautiful grounds to walk. It is immaculate in its presentation. Don’t let the overflow parking deter you from enjoying the estates. As busy as that may look, with all the area on the estates, it does not feel crowded. Be sure and download the app. It is full of wonderful information.

What a beautiful property that is so rich in history! The gardens are amazing and the different types of botanicals are intriguing and lovely. The property is expansive so prepare for some walking and I also recommend that you take this adventure in the morning as the Florida heat will hit you fast. Peaceful and calm, a great place to explore and be one with nature and learn so much more about Edison and Ford.

A nice place to visit. Hadn't been there for many years. Worth the trip to see how things used to be. The place is well maintained and a great view of the river.

Beautiful location for a wedding ceremony! Lindsey and Maisen were fantastic at helping coordinate our wedding, which turned out better than we could have ever asked. They made sure everything ran smoothly and went out of their way to make sure that we were satisfied with our experience. Lindsey even bustled my wife's dress, which would have been quite a task otherwise. They even drove us on the golf cart to make sure that we caught the sunset. Highly recommend the venue; you will be in great hands!

Plants, flowers, amazing homes all along with so much history this place is a goldmine of information! The museum is a place that has so many inventions and information it is almost information overload. They have done an amazing job collecting and preserving so many pieces of history. Love that it was free parking and everything was close at hand. Purchased our tickets on line, fast and easy.

We spent a lovely morning (about 1.5 hours) doing the self-guided tour at the Edison Ford Winter Estates. Scanning the QR codes on your cell opens up an explanation about the area you're currently in. These provided interesting commentary about the estate. We weren't able to go into the houses on this tour, but we were able to look into several of the rooms in both houses. They also have reciprocal agreements with several places around the country. We were able to do the self-guided tour for free with our JC Raulston Arboretum membership.

We enjoyed our visit here. Even though you cannot actually go into the homes, the rooms are made very visible through the doorways. Good look at the history of the place and the friendship that existed between these two men and their families. Nice thing to do on a pleasant day.

It was a nice place to visit very clean and the staff were wonderful. Felt it to be overpriced for what it actually was. Parking was free but pricing for admission was $80 for two adults and two kids under 10.

This is a great experience in learning the history of Edison and Ford along with visiting their winter estates.

So informative and interesting. The lab is the highlight of the experience of the tree that looks like a forest is only one tree. Who knew how Ford and Firestone worked on latex.

Not only were the buildings and setting amazing, but the original inventions housed here were amazing. Lots of historical information. Something for everyone. Easy to do the self guided tour.

I will start this by saying I do like history but looking at old machines and cars just doesn’t really attract my interest. My husband loved the items inside the museum. I was bummed you could not actually walk into the house but it was interesting to see inside their home. It was just okay for me.

Excellent museum, caretakers, docents, and audio tour. Highly recommended. Beautiful grounds and a wonderful way to spend a day.

Waited 20 years to see this holiday display at the Edison/Ford Winter Estates, each December I ended up never getting there, but this year I was able to finally get there and It was everything and more than I expected. Most people visit during the year but I just wanted to see the holiday decorations and it was well worth it....had I known how wonderful it was I would have tried to get there sooner.

The grounds are beautifule and the historical aspects are great. We went to the Christmas lights on New Year's Eve, which was a great decision as there were very few people there so we were able to really enjoy ourselves for an hour or so. We didn't take an actual tour so I can't comment on those. The place is definitely worth a visit.

There are so many things to enjoy at this well-run and well-maintained site. The riverside scenery is lovely, the buildings are beautiful and in excellent condition, and there are substantiol plantings and gardens even away from the homes--which have lots of them around. I would definitely second the advice from others to wear comfortable shoes--you will do a lot of walking, though the land is pretty flat. There are two stores, and I liked the variety of postcards available--quite a few of the older ones are available for just a dime!
One small quibble: the website pushes you to buy tickets online--but when I did that, it did not take the coupon code I had, not give me a chance to add it. The next time, I would pay there and make sure it was entered in.

This was a great surprise. Plenty of cool facts about Ford and Edison. We did the private tour. Chet was a great guide. This is a must see if you’re in the area.

I had to get out of the house and do something I would enjoy. I had a reciprocal membership with a botanical garden. The self guided tour, views and staff provided way more than I bargained for! It was just lovely. Gardens, history, water, and much more! The self guided app was awesome! And sweet Nancy in the gift shop was so welcoming and friendly! Yeah, NH! This is just a MUST! And close to the lovely downtown waterfront. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon!

Went for the holiday display of lights this year and was greatly disappointed after seeing the grounds in 2019. The museum and lab were closed to viewing and the "music tree" has turned into a simple few strands of blinking lights. Would not recommend.

Beautiful day to tour the grounds. It's all walking, so wear comfy shoes! A little busy trying to see into the houses from just the door. Lovely walk along the riverside. Worth the money and worth going to at least once! Go on a cool day!

This was my favorite part of our week long visit to Fort Meyers Beach. So many interesting items in the museum. The gardens and grounds were awesome as well. Highly recommend.

I came here with my adult daughter. We enjoyed our visit. Loved the houses and the gardens. Everything was decorated beautifully for Christmas 🎄. Staff may not have been the friendliest or helpful but we managed to find our way around. Definitely download the audio app since there isn’t really any signs telling you where to go. Next time we come we want to see the Christmas lights at night.

Great place to visit. The parking is free and the tour is great. Lots of interesting trees and flowers. The day we went they also were showing over 100 old cars. It was a great relaxing day.

This was our first time visiting the Edison and Ford winter estate. Honestly, it was just ok for us. To be fair, we did the self guided tour and I’m sure you learn a lot more if you opt for the guided tour. Also, we aren’t big into cars or anything, so we were only mildly interested to begin with. The gardens were pretty with a view of the bay. The house was being renovated so there was a lot of construction going on, yellow construction tape- kind of took away from the experience. The museum was mildly interesting, but if you have kids they would get bored of it quickly. Honestly, I feel it’s a bit over priced for what you get. Maybe if you were a big fan of cars you’d like it a bit more than we did.

First time here, arrived around 10:00 am to be sure to get in. the 1030 guided auto museum tour. Jim Moss was our guide and he was great with a lot of history and knowledge of Ford's cars (esp since he had serviced a few of them over the last 6 years). Then we were able to peer in the downstairs rooms of the estate. Next year guided tour of the homes!

More peacocks. At least one orchid on "Orchid Way" ...no excuses. Rebuild the pier already. Let people enter buildings, put mats if you need to. Customers deserve an immersive experience especially for the price. Build gazebo. Kids activity craft table. Donation based entrance.

Was well worth our time to visit. We only had about an hour before we had to catch our flight home but will definitely be back to take the guided tour!

Maxine did a great job guiding us through the history of the Edison and Ford homes and grounds. We had two young grandkids with us and she included them in the experience by asking questions and interaction.

Neat way to look into the past and try to imagine what the area and estate were like 100 yrs ago. We spent about an hour here, my favorite part were the wax cylinder recordings at the Edison side and I would have loved to hear one played. You can get an audio tour by scanning a QR code at the visitors center, but I didn't. Beautiful grounds with many lovely plants to see and smell with a nice breeze coming off the river. Only a couple of porch stairs for those with limited mobility, no access to the 2nd floors of the homes. Really great tropical nursery next to the visitors center too!! When coming in from the NW on McGregor, park and pay on the left and walk across the street to the actual estate.

Beautiful property well preserved. The holiday lights displayed around the grounds are amazing. Definitely recommend.

Beautiful grounds, with shaded areas to walk. The houses are amazing, as is the pool. Seeing Edison’s lab was also really cool. Definitely worth a visit

The Estates are next door to each other, lovely grounds, beautiful houses (now museums). They are Covid 19 procedure, you can get lost in your thoughts with your tour.

My wife and I visited the Edison and Ford Winter estates during a Florida vacation. It was the second time we have been there but it was a long time ago, so we wanted to return.
On this occasion we toured the museum and also the estate houses across the street, which I do not remember seeing the last time.
The most memorable thing for me was the massive banyan tree outside the entrance. However, the museum is interesting for those interested in the history of these two interesting men.
What was also interesting was that the various mansions were really not very luxurious, considering the incredible wealth that both Edison and Ford had accumulated.

My favorite part was seeing the building where, Edison, Ford and Goodyear did their research. I also enjoyed seeing all the trees and plants Goodyear experimented with to find other sources of rubber.

We visited Fort Meyers/Sarasota area per request of our grandaughter for a combo birthday graduation celebration. Top of the list was the Edison Ford estates and museum. This visit did not disappoint, the grounds are beautiful and the buildings are kept to the time period. Everything was educational and very interesting. The staff are knowledgeable and answered the many questions we had. An enjoyable self tour.

The Estates take us back in time to the pioneering snow birds who summer in the North and winter in the South. Edison served as Ford's mentor. The estates house gardens, and many plants for sale. You can view the Edison home, Edison guest house, and Ford House from the porches but not go in.
The laboratory sets near a collection of cars including a Model T Ford. The time line coordinates the events of the world with the scientific progression of these men.

The Banyan Cafe at the entrance offers a variety of coffee and snacks. At the far end, the Ford Cottage Shoppe offers a gift shop with scientific books and medicinal herb books. This historic-building shoppe is made of several rooms that are not accessible with a step up.
At the winter holidays, school children decorate Christmas trees.
Enjoy the outdoor seating near the waterfront for a respose.

Educational and beautiful. The garden is beautiful and the whole is nicely maintained. Lots of bird to hear and beautiful views of the Caloosahatche riviera.

This is basically a museum of Edison estate in Fort Myers. There are some nice displays of his works over the years as well as those of Henry Ford's. The grounds are kept well as are the winter homes of the two. You can view the insides of their houses and learn the history behind how they met and became neighbors, etc... This place is good for a day outing. Would recommend.

Our first encounter was with Ashley at the ticket counter. No eye contact or smile. She only honored the measly $1 coupon for one ticket even though it was for up to 4 people. The 1$ wasn't a big deal except the $28 was a bit steep! We couldn't have come with our 3 children.
You pay extra for a guided tour. The houses and grounds are well done. You have to look into the houses from the porch. The info and friendship between Edison, Ford, and Firestone is so interesting. Their innovations are inspiring.

More a botanical garden than a museum, some nice view of the former pier, houses, interesting museum, just a few cars for the Ford side.

This is a two part attraction. On one side of the street is a museum to both Edison and Ford. Much of shows timelines, old Ford cars, and some of Edison's inventions, turns out he invented a lot more than people think. Across the street are the estate's themselves. Edison had two houses, one for his family and one for guests as well as a pool, caretaker house, and laboratory. Ford had his estate and caretaker house next door and the properties are separated by a fence. You can't physically go inside the estates themselves but can look in from the porch. However Edison's caretakers home is an art gallery and Ford's sells snacks and souvenirs. There's lots of excellent landscaping and gardens. You can go on a guided tour or do a self-guided tour.

Beautiful historic homes, gardens and grounds. The guide app was well done. We enjoyed ourselves a great deal. We thought the technique of looking through openings into the homes worked well and protected the interiors. We charged our EV as we toured.

Fascinating way to spend an afternoon- did a tour with a guide of the grounds and garage of the Edison and Ford estates - spend the extra $5 for the live guided tour as it is fabulous- so much info , gardens, homes, garage plus museum - hear and see some of the stories and drama of founding families of Fort Meyers .

I never knew that Edison was in Ft Myers for the winter. He was friends with Henry Ford. They both had an interest in rubber plants which grew in this area. You can look at some furnished rooms of the winter homes of Ford and Edison along with the caretaker’s cottage. The museum is very interesting. The lab is a one room production factory. There is a snack shop, gift shop and plant nursery on premises. I think the admission fee is high (no seniors discount) but the attraction is well maintained and interesting.

Great place to visit. When we got there, a guided tour was scheduled to start in 40 min. The receptionist suggested we walk around the museum first, while waiting for the tour since the tour doesn't include the museum. The museum is well laid out with a lot of interesting things to read and look at. The tour began promptly and was great. I love a good guided tour, and this one didn't disappoint. Our guide was friendly, and informative. We were really able to enjoy the estates with all that we learned from that tour. The grounds are beautiful, and there are so many different plants, some incredibly spectacular. In addition to a gift shop, there is also a shop where you can buy some lovely plants. A great time.

The exhibits are of historical value, but they don't justify the admission cost. We got to see Edison's lab and the winter homes of Edison and Ford. There were a few cars owned by Ford too. The estates are in a pleasant setting with a garden, but nothing lavish. We paid a little extra for the guide who gave us more details about the families and their relationships. Parking wasn't an issue.

Great museum. The trees on site are beautiful. You can explore both houses, pool, view cars and phonograph's. There is a garden center with reasonably priced plants and flowers. A couple of gift shops and an area to grab a snack. We did the self guided tour via their app, it worked great. If you have ear buds bring a pair share with your spouse or friend

It's a shame. If it wasn't for the bad attitude of some of the workers, this would have been a fun and educational experience. The people who restored and preserve these properties did an amazing job and the buildings and historical artifacts do an amazing job of telling the story.. But some of the workers that are in charge of customer service in the stores are some of the most miserable people I have ever met. In the store on the Ford property, the lady gave us a dirty look when we walked in with our 2 and 4 year old sons. Her reaction when my 2 year old picked up a toy car pencil sharpener and brought it up to the counter to purchase was she gave him a disgusted look. I asked if they have kids come in there often and she started yelling at me "YES WE DO SIR but most people can control their kids". Then she started lecturing me on how he could break the metal toy car pencil sharpeners. Mind you this was the first thing the lady said to us. This lady was the nastiest person with a strong dislike for kids. The lady at the front store wasn't any nicer, even before our kids walked in. If it was just one of the employees i would have chalked it up to a bad day but they really need to do a better job of deciding who should be responsible for customer service.

The only difficulty we had was finding parking when we got there but if you look for the giant sign over the street it will point you to the parking. There is a guided tour for $30 and self-guided for $25 which you use your phone for. The exhibits Chronicle the life of Edison and Ford with a plethora of their inventions overtime and exhibits. The guided tour takes you across the street to the residences and discussion of the grounds and plants. All in all this was very educational and fun experience if you’re in this part of Florida.

An absolute gem among the noise and haste. I love coming here just to by plants. Guests to our home are always included in a Edison day.

Friends in Bonita Springs suggested this as an interesting afternoon diversion. It was very worthwhile. Our tour guide Bailey was excellent. She was knowledgeable, friendly and upbeat. I hadn’t realized that Edison and Ford were close friends and that Ford originally worked for Edision in Ohio. Both were extraordinarily successful people if not a little quirky as human beings. You are treated to their summer homes, Edison’s rubber research laboratory as well as several operating Model T cars and trucks. The site also houses the largest Banyan tree in the continental U.S.

Well organized special event even in the midth of pandemic 2020 Holiday Season. Beautiful way to spend time with family members of all ages. Festive looking Estates in their "Christmas - best" decor! Lots of lights and Christmas music.Outdoor refreshment station available. Little children enjoy animated music and light show at Mysore Fig Tree.

We enjoyed our visit to the Edison and Ford winter estates in Fort Myers, Florida. The site has two homes and a variety of buildings that were at one point in time the summer homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The buildings have been nicely restored and are in good shape. There is also a museum and a laboratory that was at one point in time used to find alternate sources of rubber. It's definitely interesting to get a glimpse into the past of this historic site.

Although the museum is a bit biased in its presentation of some of the controversies surrounding Thomas Edison, it does provide a nice and rich history of the man and his work. I knew about many of Edion's inventions, but the breadth of his work is truly astounding.

There is an audio tour that is available via your phone. I enjoyed it, and it provided some nice details about the site and its history. There are guided tours available for an added cost, but they only go out at certain hours. We arrived at museum opening and there was not a tour of available for more than an hour, which we didn't have.

Overall, we enjoyed walking around the site and learning a bit about the history of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. I highly recommend this site to anybody who's interested in history or is just looking for cool things to do in the Fort Myers area.

We were here on a Tuesday and just happened to arrive in time to purchase a tour of the houses. It was well worth the extra money to tour the inside and learn the history of the houses and the connection between Edison and Ford. The guide was very knowledgeable and the weather was perfect for walking.

Beautiful gardens, estate homes and very interesting historical information about Thomas Edison and Henry Ford at their winter retreat.

I have been going to Naples for years and never took the drive up to Fort meyer to see this museum dedicated to Thomas Edison and Henry Ford who wintered there. Very educational as it gave another side to two of the giants of American Industry and Invention.

Plenty of outdoor free parking, and lovely well-maintained grounds. Most of it is outdoors so don’t come in the rain like we did! The banyan tree out front is a wonder to see, and if you download the app while there, you can follow the self/guided tour numbered markers to get narrated info about the houses and grounds. Nice gift shop if you want a souvenir and a crushed penny machine near the clean restrooms.

Learned so much, about Edison and Ford. Exhibits were state of the art, informative, condensed, and inspiring !!!
Loved seeing the homes, the landscaping, and the water views !!!!!

This place is a must see for any history buff. The grounds are beautiful, and everything is well preserved. The museum was very informative. My favorite was the lab!! Awesome to see where a lot of Edison’s inventions were made. Don’t miss out on this one.

The beauty of the grounds and homes is stunning. The human story of the two men and their accomplishments is amazing. We loved the self guided approach to visiting this site, by downloading the app ahead of time. The homes are set up in such a way so you can see inside from openings in the walls, without stepping inside the homes. We spent about two hours leisurely touring the homes and property which is full of gorgeous botanicals. You can sit along the river on shaded benches soaking in the beauty and history. What a gem this is. Don’t miss it when in Fort Myers.

This complex has multiple components:
- extensive outside grounds with multiple homes and buildings (options are guided tour, self-guided tour by listening on your phone), or just walk around and observe
- indoor museum
- indoor gift shop and outdoor plant/garden shop

I did the self-guided walking tour of the grounds on a previous visit in June 2024 – very interesting and very hot on a June afternoon – so on this visit I skipped that piece.
The museum is extremely interesting and well organized/presented. Both Edison and Ford were very interesting people and the museum does well to communicate that. I like to read every word on every display board and in about 2 hours I was able to see 2/3 of the exhibit rooms. If you move more quickly than me, you will see more in the same amount of time. $28/adult. Definitely go in the morning during hot weather months if you plan to walk around outside a lot.

Read my review for The Oasis, a nearby restaurant in Ft. Myers.

Interesting but considering the price, a little underwhelming. The houses are nice and how the men decided to live in Ft Myers, their gardens, etc. was interesting. Sadly - I can’t say this is a place I would tell people they can’t miss.

Additionally - Website said price was $20 but when we arrived, saw the price was $25. When we asked about difference, the man at the ticket counter was pretty rude saying that was not their website. He was very curt and unfriendly.

We discovered a lot about Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The place is gorgeous - historical buildings, botanical gardens, museums. There are lots of special events that happen on the ground.

Very interesting place to learn about the history of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison's time in southwest Florida.

It was supremely hot! Clearly winter is best to visit. Great for elderly people — if you’re under 50 eh maybe not.
It’s was interesting to learn about Edison and all he invented.
The grounds were lovely and Ft Myers has been blessed to be gifted these historic estates.

I took the automotive tour which is only offered once per week. It was good and gave good insight on the Ford Model T cars. Adding one of the house tours would have cost quite a bit more. So, I ended up downloading the phone app and doing the audio tour that way. The museum itself has a lot of interesting things in it. So, I would recommend allowing time for that. I left the location in order to get lunch as there seemed to really only be snack items available.

We dropped by based on a recommendation from family and we’re so glad we did! Spent several hours here, just walking around. Museum section was very informative, the laboratory was really cool, and the houses and seeing the land was my favorite part! Loved walking it! 10/10

Beautiful place and a nice museum, the kids loved the activity room but for some reason it closed already at 4pm. So unfortunately we were done already after 1,5hrs, which obviously wasn’t nearly worth the 80 dollars we paid in admission.

Such a beautiful and historic place. Highly recommend. Isaac was a great tour guide with interesting information. He helped transport you back to the golden era.

the drive on McGregor Blvd is cool with all the palm trees lining the 2 lane road; looks just like a movie than the gardens at the estate are so fragrant and all the different sections of different gardens are incredible. The self guided tour was perfect for us to take our time and focus on what we wanted. well worth the time--staff very kind and helpful

Skip the ticket line
As you walk up you may see many people dutifully standing in line to purchase a ticket. Do this instead:
- Go online, buy your tickets (not time or day specific).
- Walk in the door immediately right of the ticket door.
- Tell the agent your ticket number.
- They will hand you your wrist band.
- Enjoy a unique historical attraction.

Where would the world be without these two men? So much to see. The grounds are in superb condition. The homes are in great condition. Unusual plants everywhere. Kids may not have enough things to do though.

What can I say about the Edison and Ford summer homes. If you’re a history aficionado like me these two great men from the 20th century certainly have quite a bit to contribute to our knowledge. It’s a wonderful tour. You get to see quite a bit up Klose and Personal you get to see the model a the model T you get to see some of the inventions that were done by Edison. This is a very worthy stop if you make it to Fort Myers. And if you happen to be here at Christmas make sure you do the evening holiday lights event.

This is a great place to explore. Very authentic and interesting. We were able to learn about Edison and how the estate came about. On the way out there is a lovely flower shop with many nice plants to purchase,

I hadn’t been here since I was a child! Took the family today (2 adults, a teen and tween) and we had a great morning. About $85 plus we stopped for icecream. We did the self guided tour which was great. It was super hot but we expected it and came early. I forgot the grounds were so beautiful! Lush tropical plants mixed with specimens from all over, giant banyans and figs and orchids. We all loved it, even the kids.

Living in the area, we always bring our out of town company to the Estates and it never disappoints. The grounds and location are beautiful, the tours highly informative and the museum a wealth of information. I do have to take exception to the review " Mask Nazis" as personally we appreciate the enforced mask mandate in the museum and have always felt that if you don't want to wear a mask then just tour the grounds and skip the museum. Seems pretty straightforward to me. One of my favorite exhibits in the museum is the wonderful collection of old photos of Edison, Ford and Firestone and the many family activities they did together. I never tire of them. Make sure you come with enough time to enjoy the entire experience and keep in mind the museum doors lock 15 minutes before the Estate's closing.

A nice tour. If you like history and homes from way back when this is a place to go. Funky place to find as you drive trying to find the entrance, not really well marked. Also a lot of classic Carson’s inventions. I recommend taking the tour with a guide which is more interactive than listening to an audio presentation or going alone through the venues. Small little souvenir shop.Garden plants for sale with higher prices than other places. We had a good time.

Took a tour with Matt this morning. I had been here before doing the audio tour. As someone who is often bored with museums and history, I found this tour very interesting. So many personal facts and insights made it very enjoyable. Matt was funny, knowledgeable, and interesting. Definitely recommend!

Visited on a Wednesday, mid day. It was busy but not over crowded. $40 for one adult and one child. We opted for the self guided tour and downloaded an app which gave us information at marked stops along the property. Beautifully preserved homes right on the water. You can’t actually enter the homes, you must view them through window openings. Great art of acts displayed in the homes to depict what it was like when the Edison and Ford families were living here. The gardens and grounds are equally beautiful! And the museum is FULL of information and other artifacts! I could have spent a couple hours just reading everything posted in this building. At the end, you walk through the lab where Mr. Edison conducted many experiments and it was a sight to see! Definitely worth visiting and taking a step back in history with two men who changed the way we live our lives now with their inventions!

Even my wife- who doesn't normally like museums- loved this tour. Very informative and a perfect thing to do if you're in the area. You have to download an app to get the self guided tour- but it's well worth it.

This was a neat place visit. Being from Michigan it was fun to see the historical connection. It was a beautiful day and the yards are beautiful.

It was awesome seeing Edison’s winter home and hearing about his friendship with Ford. Holiday lights were beautiful!

So cool to walk thru actual history, beautiful surroundings. Time almost stands still. Spend the day!!

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates did not disappoint! We decided to take an official tour versus doing a self-guided tour. While there is an addition cost, we learned so much from our tour guide, we are glad we did.
The grounds and buildings are well manicured. Most of the furniture in the Edison Estate is from the estate.

Included in the price of admission is a very nice self guided audio tour from your phone. Homes are well kept and you cannot go inside but doors and windows are open to view and take interior photos. Grounds are beautiful and park like right by the water. There is also a laboratory of Edison’s here and a garage with a few Ford automobiles. A very nice visit with a nice historical audio tour. Worth a visit if in Fort Myers area.

Great Place to visit. Beautiful and very interesting estate. Nice coffee shop on the estate with great sandwiches and homemade Banana bread!

My husband and I did a tour today with Alice. She was great. Learned a lot and enjoyed walking the grounds and hearing the history on the grounds.

We went early and took the tour. We sure had a great time and learned a lot of History and saw the homes Edison and Ford lived in during their Vacation time.

This is definitely a place to visit when you here in South Florida.
The price might seem high but believe is totally worth it.

You really not need to pay extra for the tour, since you can walk around this museum and simply read everything step by step.

I loved how much I learned in here and the best part was that we were able to go outside and even see their Winter Houses!! so nice and interesting.

The view of the water was simply the best!! I wish I could stay there forever!!

I thought this was just a house/museum and not much but I was wrong. On one side of the street they have the Edison and Ford Museum, which is very well maintained. They portray Edison's numerous inventions (which I had no idea they were so many) and even the first cars that Ford created. I was amazed. Across the street you can visit the different houses they owned. Visitors can see inside the house through windows and open doors. No access to any of the properties except for the Caretaker's house. I strongly recommend to visit. I had a great time. I'd recommend you reserve easily a couple of hours for this tour.

Amazing tour. Learned so much, beautiful grounds. So much to see blew away expectations. Chase our guide was so knowledgeable and answered every question he did a fantastic tour made it a great experience.

Have you ever thought of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford as Florida men! Thanks to their winter estates, now you can! It was super fun to see their lavish homes and Edison's Florida laboratory. I just don't think it was worth the price of admission.

Awesome place to visit. Gardens are beautiful. The homes were interesting. I was surprised they had walk-in closets and full baths. The museum was very well laid out, providing detailed information about Edison and Ford’s inventions. I had no idea that Edison has 1,063 patents. We think of him as having invented the electric lightbulb but there is so much more. The lab is well preserved. Definitely a must see especially if you have children.

We loved this place! Such a wonderful place to step back in time and experience old Florida plus the added education and knowledge was fabulous! This is well done, nice museum, as well as the actual grounds and homes that Edison and Ford lived in during their time in FL. Everyone was helpful and kind, good information, lots of unusual items like Edison’s laboratory. Also found the pool fascinating. Wonderful array of Fords motor vehicles. Enjoyed the little food truck/coffee shop as well.

I was glad we allocated a day for this wonderful museum. The museum is well done and very informative. We visited Greenfield Village in Dearborn Michigan years ago and were curious about the “sister museum” at the winter homes. While not nearly as big, It did not disappoint. We planned around being able to take the Monday morning automotive tour which was terrific. The guide was EXTREMELY knowledgeable and a delightful personality. The almost 2 hour tour flew by. The gardens are impressive and the houses lovely.

We did the self-guided tour because we didn't have a lot of time, but it's a beautiful place. You can't actually go in, which was a little disappointing, but they have a lot of viewing areas from the doors and windows, so you can see most of the first floor areas. Definitely a beautiful area and nice to see some of the owners' interests displayed there, also.

Probably the best historical site in Fort Myers Florida. It was a lovely outdoor walk and there was so much to look at. The buildings all had a story to tell. There’s also an indoor museum exhibit to look at and a cafe outside that serves really good coffee! I think they sell food too

Get there early! We went at 0915. My friend had gone another time after lunch and she said the lines were very long and crowded.
The museum was great to look at. A couple of workers explained various things to us about the museum. That’s free.
We took the $30 tour. Our guide tried too hard so he wasn’t very good. Lots of things to see at both houses. Plexiglass is higher and being shorter it was difficult to see and take pics. I understand the safety issues about not having guests in the actual rooms. Damage, thief, etc.
Lab area was very interesting.
Gift shop was very good; able to buy plants if a person wanted too.
A good 2+ hours is needed if doing all of it

We did the full In the House tour. It was expensive, but the money is used to maintain the houses and museum. It looked pretty well maintained. For a family, the self guide option is a cheaper, but still worthwhile option.

Lots of really interesting artifacts and information. The laboratory was quite interesting.

This is an interesting little historical spot that has a nice museum covering Edison and Ford stories, inventions and their efforts to try to develop their own source of rubber. They have well-preserved homes of both men that were built near the adjacent water, as well as the lab where most of the experiments went on. I learned a lot about Edison, in particular, and it's gotten me interested to learn more. We enjoyed strolling around and reading the plaques. We didn't join an official tour, which is only an extra five bucks, but we got snippets when the guides would walk by. The plaques, honestly, tell most of the story. The entrance fee was kind of high, but since we have an American reciprocal museum membership this year, it was free!

Really, really interesting part of history. The homes and grounds are beautiful, and we saw them decorated for Christmas. We took the self-guided tour, which was adequate. The swimming pool at the Edison estate is worth the price of admission.

We arrived late morning and there was no parking in main parking lots. So we parked in the overflow parking. It was a little confusing but once we got to the ticket office was less confusing. We thought we were already onsite bit the homes were across the street. Some pretty views onto the water. The homes were nice to visit and see what the rooms looked like back in the day. I really enjoyed the museum so interesting on learning both there lives and inventions.

The trees, homes, and over all area is gorgeous. The homes are beautiful and you can download an app to learn about they as you walk around them. I only wish you could have gone in one of them. You can only look over a half glass doorway in all of the buildings. But... I understand they want to keep them pristine so I get it. The museum is really cool and bigger than I thought it was. I would recommend spending a few hours here.

It’s a popular attraction, packed parking lot with cars from many states. During the pandemic, masking is required to enter. It is a very large estate, which was a winter escape for the Edison and Ford families. The homes, with exhibits of some of Edison’s inventions and Ford’s cars (the prototype known as Quadricycle) looks like the attraction to many. For me, it is the grounds that is most exciting. The collection of fauna is awesome! Look for many species of figs, orchids (there’s large deep purple Cattleya), and bryophytes sprouting on many trees. Self tours are best, download their app and you’re ready to go. Great visit though I’m not sure the $25.00 entry fee is justified.

Overall, the experience seemed okay. There is not much to do. This place seems to be a spot for events which is nice.

Honestly, if you are looking for an activity other than boat rides or beach getaways then this is an okay place to visit.

When did actually you go? May 2021

There is so much to see here so we ended up going 2 days and purchasing a membership. I highly recommend spending the extra money for the "Inside the Homes" tour which is only offered twice during the week. Our tour was about 2 hours long and was led by the museum curator. There are some benches along the way where you can sit very briefly if you need to. It was fascinating to learn about the lives of these 2 famous men and see how they lived. The museum and laboratory are self-guided and there are many artifacts to see and read about, along with several antique Ford cars. The two gift shops are lovely and the plants for sale looked beautiful and hearty. This is a well-run, quality experience but geared more toward adults.

My sister and I visited this attraction on 11/2/22 and toured the museum, houses, and grounds independently. We arrived about noon and soon discovered that we would not be able to see everything that we wanted to. We then chose to see part of the museum and the main houses We also spent a little time in the gift shop and live plants for sale area. I purchased a bracelet in the gift shop that was supposed to give me the opportunity to track a sea turtle by going to an independent website to register my turtle's name. This turned out to be a hoax./fraud because the website was just to sell more items and the pop-up to follow the turtle did not exist. I doubt that the gift shop is aware of this but maybe should investigate before selling any more of this company's products. We did not allow enough time to see everything but what we did see was very interesting, the homes were furnished with period pieces, and there were large signs to explain a lot of things. We definitely plan to go back when we can allot more time. There was a small food truck on grounds that offered drinks and a few sandwich options. I had a chicken salad on a croissant that came with chips, and an iced coffee. My sister just had iced coffee. We enjoyed everything and it was a good value for the cost.

An amazing piece of history that we had never heard of before. Spent about 2 1/2 hours. The guided tour is well worth it. We had a very knowledgeable and personable guide.
Well worth the time and money!!

Interesting but small. Not enough to keep kids entertained more than an hour. Historic rooms and lovely gardens.

My family loved this place. The photos of early camping expeditions, Edison's laboratory, his inventions, and early experiments with plants to make rubber were fascinating. If you like history, science, or just like a glimpse into what their lives were like in that era, this is the spot. There's so much to see here and I'd recommend reading a little bit about the history of the estate before visiting - it will enhance the experience. Don't miss the Banyan tree - wow!

A great experience. We took the guided tour, $30 per person, which takes about an hour. The guide gave us a very thorough explanation of the Edison and Ford houses, family history and interesting facts about the area. There is a museum to visit after your tour, the largest Banyan tree in the US to see and gardens. It was a great experience and enjoyed by each of us.

One of the best museums to go to. Great plant displays and awesome old cars. Very clean and well maintained. Makes you appreciate what Edison and Ford did.

While leaving Captiva we decided to stop by for a visit. The grounds are very well maintained and lots of signs to identify the plants. You can’t go into the houses but I like the plexie glass doors to allow for a close inside look. I used my phone to listen to the narrated tour. My husband looked at the plants for sale when we were done. I loved the room where he did all his trials for inventions with his workers. Great history preserved in the Ford cars too. My teenage daughter was not entertained but not sure what I could do today make it more engaging. As adults we loved it for an afternoon activity.

We had always talked about visiting the estate and museum but never seemed to schedule it. I’m not sure why we selected a day with a 90 degree temperature but we did, I would suggest going during a cooler time of year because many of the buildings were not air conditioned.

The small parking area was free and there were very few cars there. I thought a $25 per person charge was a bit high for what we saw on our self guided tour. There was a gift shop and a small house that advertised ice cream on the property as well as vending machines. The estate was set up on two sides of the road but you could easily cross at the traffic light.

The path along the river was lovely and we enjoyed the cool breeze. We were only able to peek in to the rooms in the Ford and the Edision estates because all of the rooms were closed off. There was no viewing of the second floors.

We were able to examine cars near the homes as well as in the museum. There were detailed explanations of all of the exhibits that we found to be quite informative. The grounds were nice and it was pleasant going back to a different era where Fort Myers was undeveloped and enjoyed by these men and their families.

Beautiful location. Super informative with very friendly staff. I know this is a silly thing to rave about but a downtown location with no shortage of parking is a HUGE plus. Plus the app was a really cool way to do a self guided tour that did not require me to stand around trying to read signs.

The attraction has free parking. The facility includes a museum about the lives of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. It includes a few vintage vehicles. The grounds have many plants with many of them for sale. There is a gift shop.

Best place to visit if you're after architecture and history in South West Florida. The guide was very informative and the amount you see is really worth the time and money! If you could only do one thing in Fort Myers, go to the Edison and Ford winter estates

Fantastic afternoon. Must check it out if you like history. Pretty , unique and the staff is very nice.

I just visited Monday with my family of 6. It's the first visit for my kids and my first in 20 years. It is better than ever. The free app will take you on a great audio tour forboth adults and kids. The viewers are wonderful and the knowledge staff was plus. Thanks for a wonderful walk through memory lane of days gone by while visiting with my late grandparents.

Very informational. We did the self guided tour but there is an option to pay for a guided tour. The home tour has the option of listening to information about each stop on an app or you can read the signs at the locations. We opted for reading the signs due to it being VERY hot so that we could move a little quicker but listened to the app information after getting back into the A/C! After touring the homes, we followed the trail to Pincher's restaurant for lunch. We were going to order the key lime pie for dessert but found out that we each got a free piece for having our wristbands on from the Ford and Edison Museum. A nice surprise. There is no food on the property and Pincher's is a very short walk along the river. When we finished with lunch, we toured the museum. There is plenty of interesting information within those walls that the hubby and two teenage boys enjoyed. The place does not look that big but we spent the majority of our day there. It's a great place for history buffs. Due to the heat, we did not tour the gardens but I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Beautiful grounds. Lots of educational information and very interesting.
Bonus...my local arboretum membership got us in free.

Very interesting history of the Edison and Ford relationship. Interesting artifacts/autos and very well-kept grounds.

My teenage daughter used the app to give us the self guided tour. We found it very interesting and the grounds are beautiful. You can take an hour or more depending on how fast you move along. We took an ice cream break at the end.

Two of the greatest men from our history vacationing together in South Florida. Of course, They couldn’t stop working And their estates reflect their character. Definitely enjoyable for those of us a little older. Really good learning opportunity for younger children. Well-maintained and staffed.

The botanical grounds and perfectly preserved homes are well worth the visit. You can take your time and do a guided tour but if pressed you can also self guide with a virtual tour, approx 60-75 minutes.
This is a very interesting time of the Fords, Edisons, Firestones, et al as they wintered in the Ft Myers area. The tour focuses on them and their friends as they sported, collaborated and experimented, plus much more about their lives and careers.
Multi acre botanical grounds are beautiful on the river.

I visited on a hot Thursday afternoon so I was the only one on the guided tour. The gentleman tour guide was fairly new but knowledgeable. I had been to Detroit the previous summer and visited the Ford Museum, just a tiny fun bit of overlap. This is a beautiful tour and property. I was fascinated and loved the banyan tree! The walk was enjoyable and not too much walking. The homes were lovely. For us car buffs they have a few old cars. The museum really has something for everyone. One surprise for me was that Mr. Edison was trying to grow and harvest rubber. I would recommend this tour!

The admission to the Edison home is excessive, for the quality and content of the Museum. It is interesting to see Edison’s simple home but the experience is shallow, everything behind glass or partitions and difficult to see. The actual museum does not engage the viewer.Amazing inventions sit old and dusty on shelved displays. What a great opportunity for the museum to show a short movie on how Mr. Edison’s phonographs and early “sound machines” worked. The museum is silent. Not a good experience for children since there is no engagement with any of the displays. Even Mr. Ford’s cars seem unloved and without character, they stand in place dried up and dusty. The gift shop contains dog eared books and beach shop type toys. The audio tour is simple and with little fact or insight to the times. The adult admission of $25 is exorbitant for what you can glean from the experience.

This was a wonderful tour and experience! The grounds were gorgeous and our guide was knowledgeable and gracious. It was very interesting and engaging. The gift shop was really neat and they also had beautiful plants for sale as well.

Everything about this place was neat! I would do a guided tour of some sort next time, likely worth the extra money to even better understand the entire complex.

We aren't history buff's, but this was actually very interesting and a fun way to spend a couple of hours. It was very interesting to know that these titan's of industry were friends and how they spent their time in Ft Myers.

The Henry Ford and Thomas Edison winter homes in Ft. Myers is well worth your time to visit while in Ft. Myers. We did not know what to expect, but I would recommend having a guided tour of the two homes which provided a wealth of history which you would not get without, but even if you elect to tour on your own, it's more than worth your time.

We'll definitely be back! So much to see...very educational. A wonderful experience. It's quite a large area with many buildings to explore, so wear comfortable shoes and clothes!

Really interesting place to visit
Didn’t think we would be there for so long, can’t enter the buildings but plenty of doors/windows you can see into the rooms
Lovely to walk round the gardens with loads of beautiful plants and amazing trees

On my list of things to see, I was skeptical. The fee is pricey ($25-60) but worth it for restoration and historical sites. I was intrigued learning the history, ingenuity, business of these families. It is very well done and worth a visit.

Amazing spot, the buildings were interesting and filled with so many rooms that include interesting objects and stories. The plants outside the buildings that they grew may have been even more incredible, such interesting and exotic specimens.

Great place to visit and learn more about the history of Ford and Edison. Watch for their special events and holiday gatherings. Well worth a membership to stay up to date about upcoming events!

Went on Easter 🐣 Day early. Was not busy so we had plenty of time to browse the museum and visit the entire Estate. Three and a half hours and it was awesome. It was well worth the cost. Lots of history, displays and beautiful gardens.

Everything was very nice and the tour guide seemed knowledgeable. But the guided tour seemed to move very slow with a lot of opinion over facts.

Enjoyed our visit. Entry fee is steep of traveling with a family. Homes and museum are very well maintained.

A great place to visit! So much I didn’t know about those two incredible inventors.
Beautiful grounds as well. The view from the back patio is so inviting, a beautiful spot to see.

If you are interested in Thomas Edison and/or Henry Ford, this is a place for you. I took
the "Edison Ford Guided Tour" which was very worthwhile. This is a long walking tour. The tour guide was pleasant and very knowledgeable. The tour lasted about 75 minutes. Wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a hat and a bottle of water. Afterward, I had a very nice lunch around the corner at Pinchers Restaurant, located at 2360 West First Street, Ft. Myers, FL. Ask for an outdoor table.

Loved it. Gorgeous gardens, beautiful estate. Learned a lot in the museum and on the grounds. Would recommend!

Be advised that this little sojourn is a tad pricey. And the discounts are stingy. But if you’re a history buff, it’s worth it. Anyone else will probably be bored to tears. The homesteads are SHOCKINGLY MODEST bungalows (I expected way larger and more lavishly decorated estate homes) and you can’t even go in them - you can only look at interior rooms through openings. The surrounding grounds have extensive collections of interesting botanical specimens. As underwhelming as the bungalows were, the museum in the main building is not. Do not miss that - it’s beautifully done, extensive and fascinating.

We took the self-guided tour with the iPhone app. The only regret is that we didn't bring headphones. Each spot on the tour has an audio bit that explains each location and the history of each.

The estates are well kept and were decorated for Christmas. We went during the day so we did not get to see the Christmas lights. The rooms were all well decorated for the holidays.

The entire family, including the teens, enjoyed the property and learning the history of the estates. We also learned more about the friendship between Edison and Ford. Make sure to allocate enough time to visit the museum. It's much larger than it looks from the outside.

Enjoyed the views and the history lesson. Very entertaining, especially touring the Edison lab and the beautiful grounds of the Ford Estate.

We Thoroughly enjoyed the museum! Walking around and getting this piece of history was amazing. The grounds are beautiful!

This is a very good museum, lots of new information and things to see. It is more for adults. Recommend doing the guided tour, our guide was great.

Love touring The Edison Ford Estate at Christmas time! It’s magical with all the lights & Christmas decorations inside the homes & outside on the tropical grounds!

There are two basic parts to this place:
First, the two homes… they sit next to each other, there is plenty of signage if you like to stand and read in the sun OR you can use your phone to call the “tour” number, tell it what “stop” you are at on the property, and listen to the recorded info while standing in the shade. Note: it is blazing hot on a Florida June afternoon even when you stand in the shade. Everything is interesting, it is all outside, and there is a fair amount of walking. Smooth, flat sidewalks for moving around the multiple buildings on the property… no ramps for a wheelchair to get up on the porches of the homes to see in the rooms.

The second piece to the experience is the indoor, air-conditioned museum. Again, extremely interesting. Unfortunately, however, we did the outside piece first (at 1 in the afternoon – hot, hot, hot) and by the time we got to the indoor museum our strength was zapped – we did not have the energy to give as much attention to the museum as it deserved. Spent about 2-1/2 hours total there.

See other reviews from this trip:
Sarasota, FL: The John and Mabel Ringling Mansion ("Ca'd'Zan”), The Ringling Circus Museum, The Marie Selby Botanical Garden.
Venice, FL: The Crow’s Nest, Sharky’s on the Pier.
Key West, FL: The Hogfish Grill (on next-door Stock Island), Ernest Hemingway House, Harry Truman’s Little White House, Trolley Tour, Key West First Legal Rum Distillery, The Lobster Shack, Hot Tin Roof, Santa Maria Suites.
Key Largo, FL: Holiday Inn, Skipper’s Dockside Restaurant, Key Largo Princess II Glass Bottom Boat Tour.
Punta Gorda: Laishley’s Crab House.

These estates,side-by-side are very interesting to explore, especially learning the history behind the accomplishments of these 2 great men. You have the opportunity to take a self-guided tour or pay an additional amount for a guided. You don't have to spend the extra money because the facts are presented on signs at each point of interest. You get a good view of the roome in each of the estates.A must-see attraction.

Always a great time, learn something new each time I’ve been here. This was my 4th time, and is a great way to spend 2-3 hours on a self guided tour of the houses, grounds and museums. There is no damage from the recent hurricane so go and enjoy.

Lovely location and beautiful properties for the Winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Beautiful gardens to walk around and explore the estates. Took the self guide tour, and don't forget to download their app.

We recommend a guided tour as you will gain a lot more insights to the story of this historic place. It is a fascinating part of American history.

The weather was extremely hot but sunny, and we did the walking tour self-guided with our cell phones. I love plants and being outside so this was a great day for us. It may be too much of a Rocky surface if you have somebody who’s wheelchair bound or needs accessibility. There was also a fantastic restaurant next-door to be able to cool off and get a drink and some lunch

Visiting the estates of Ford and Edison during December was a magical experience for our group of six older adults. We arrived in mid afternoon to see the museum and also purchased tickets for the lights experience. We should have planned for more time in the museum as there was a lot of information to process. More interesting than I had thought!

Then we proceeded to the estates where the grounds invited us with illumination. Stepping onto the decorated porches to peer into the past pleasures of Christmas, was an experience for me like no other. The decorating skills rendered were born in the love of the holidays. Each and every room was exquisitely decorated to absolute perfection. The space was not propped, but enhanced as an exclusive invitation into the time period making me feel like a special invited guest. My eyes treasured finding period decorations in every part of every room.

The feeling I took home with me was gratitude that so much time and effort was put into the most beautiful Christmas decorations I had ever seen. It was an evening I shall cherish.

E&F is a must stop. Nice preservation of history. Beautiful setting. Excellent staff. Easy to find and traffic was not bad.

We had a delightful and informative visit. It was extremely hot so we decided to visit the homes and grounds first then end our visit in the air conditioned museum. The staff was not overly talkative but pleasant. After reading many reviews that complained about things I wasn't sure what to expect. I would recommend visiting the website before your visit. We downloaded the free app so we could listen to audio about each stop. We spent 2 hours but could have easily spent another hour because we live learning and reading displays in the museum. Young kids may be bored unless they are used to museums. Worth the $25. I'm sure it costs alot of money to maintain this beautiful place.

When friends come to visit, this is on the list of must do's! The houses are fun, and the history of the families and their friendship is fascinating.

We had recently visited Clearwater and thought why not make a stop in Ft. Myers and visit the historic homes? It was a beautiful property, sunny day, a bit hot but still pretty. The grounds are gorgeous so if you’re a plant and flower person then this will be right up your alley. But…you are greeted by someone at the ticket counter who, if you’re unlucky, will get the person who tries to up-sell the museum membership pass (valid wherever; may be a good deal, but when there is only one person behind the desk…see where I’m going with this?)

Next, you walk through the property and when we got to one of the structural spots, it was closed for camp activities. Which was annoying. (We went during the week but if you’re having tours then you shouldn’t close off part of the tour to said tourists paying $25 to see said structure). Which brings me to the chalk drawings on the sidewalk. If this is a historical site/homes, I don’t think having something like that really works for the ambiance. (I have kids, so I’m not one of “those people”)

None of the houses are open to the public (you can peer through a window), you are not allowed upstairs to even do that, and most of the items inside the homes are not original, but,
definitely from that era.

The best part was the fig/rubber tree. Honestly. That was my only highlight.

A great family experience. The family learned so much from this visit (also Henry Ford's adjacent winter home). Incredible vision of Mr. Edison that applies to today's living, so many great remarks.

The gardens, hundreds of different tropical trees, flowers. Interesting lab and a museum, a most to see, so detailed and well kept.

A must see in Fort Myers.

You definitely have to go to Fort Myers to see this museum, Edison and Ford.
Super interesting, and above all we walk around the property of these inventors!
Top place.

Amazing place, great history, so much to see and learn! We've been several times, but my favorite time to go is during Christmas to see the holiday light display!

Great for families or couples. We loved cafe museum and all the places to take pictures. Gift shop is also worth shopping in.

Immerse yourself in the life of Edison and Ford’s time... treading the paths of their homes and discovering their places of life is just great...

Hard to find things to do following the devastation of Hurricane Ian almost 5 months ago. Websites are up, internet reviews are great, then you get there to find it's closed or even totally destroyed. This place is just like it was before. Great history, beautiful homes, very enjoyable. Website was a bit discouraging since it said "the things on the map in red are closed due to hurricane". Most of the map looked reddish brown with just two tiny areas in red. Almost didn't go! How about using a different color?

Beautiful visit and walk on the Estate. A holiday must. Simply beautiful. Merry Christmas. And I’ll make this a tradition each time.

Really interesting. Down loaded tour on our phone. They were very helpful in setting up for us. Beautiful grounds. Museum in building is great- give enough time to go through.

I loved visiting Edison and Ford Winter Estates. The museum was interesting, and the grounds were beautiful. I chose not to do the guided tour and just walked around at my own pace. I enjoyed reading all of the information at the different display areas, and I enjoy gardens and flowers, so spending time looking at and appreciating them throughout the grounds. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and only rated it a four since others in my group pointed out there wasn't much to DO, and for people looking for structured activities (other then the guided tour) may not want to do this because it is kind of wandering around and looking at what you want to look at.

Thomas Edison's Winter home and labs. Provide good insight into the life of one of America's great inventors and his buddy Henery Ford. Definately how the rich and famous lived.
Beautiful gardens and flowering plants. Cool Banyan trees.
Outside food trailer provided a good snack and cool drinks on a warm April day.

My fiancé and I spent the morning here, and it was very educational. We started the day with the automotive tour (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!) and we learned a TON! We then did a guided tour and again the tour guide was very informative. We then finished with our own walking tour of the gardens, museum, laboratory and homes. Lots of inventions and automobiles and so much more to see and learn about!

Our son told us to go here, because my husband like old cars. There were cars here, of course, but so much more!
The house and grounds are beautifully kept. Plants and tress interesting and well labeled.
We did our own tour, but there are guided tours available.
Nice museum and gift shop.
The homes are all staged, and you look at them from the doors and entries.
Should do this on a cloudy day, with no rain. Almost everything is outside.
There is a nice shop , and plants for sale, so do that at the end of the tour.
Parking is free.
Small kids would probably be bored, but ours are older and really enjoyed it

Fun experience and very interesting experience to get an appreciation of a couple of American inventors, entrepreneurs. Will come back in the winter, when it isn’t quite as hot! Most of tour is open air and July isn’t the best time for this experience.

Parking is free & convenient. There’s a little cafe outside with coffee, desserts, snacks. We took the guided tour since we arrived as it was leaving - for $5 more. The guide was a young man, very personable and patient and clearly knowledgeable so the average assessment is not for him. Exhibits and access viewing of the houses seriously need to be updated. It’s a pretty steep admission for a family and there’s little to appeal to younger kids. I’ve hauled grandkids to dozens of museums, attractions, etc……this would be a pass. Note - nothing was addressed regarding Henry Ford’s documented racism and antisemitism. Even the Henry Ford Organization has done that.

I agree with other reviewers that the houses and gardens are beautiful and fun, so I will not reiterate. I will note several pointers: First, allow enough time here, at least several hours. We arrived at about 3:30 after all the guided tours were done and it took us almost until closing time at 5:30 just to enjoy the houses and gardens. Second, there is a museum that is not on the side of the road with the houses. It’s where the ticket office and garden shop are. We were not aware there even was a museum so we missed it completely, which disappointed us later when friends told us how much they loved the museum! Third, an app allows you to do a self-guided tour but DOWNLOAD IT AHEAD OF TIME. It takes a while. Fourth, note that the parking lot is across the busy Main Street from the actual houses. It’s a bit of a confusing set-up. Fifth, the garden shop has beautiful plants for both indoor and outdoor use. A bonus if you live in Florida!

My husband and I visited the Edison and Ford Winter Estates with relatives from Austin, Texas. It was our third time visiting and our relatives first. The grounds are beautiful, and the museum is packed with information. We are always happy to return to share the experience with others.

We packed a picnic lunch because we did not know (not yet posted on the website) that they have a wonderful little cafe on the property. The woman staffing the cafe was very gracious and told us to help ourselves to one of the tables for our picnic lunch. Naturally we returned for coffee and homemade treats at the end of our visit——delicious. Next visit, we will enjoy the lunch offerings as well.

Had the opportunity to take the inside the house tour. Guide was informative. Grounds and gardens make for a pleasant walk.

Spend a wonderful 3-4 hour tour. We did the self tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. We found the museum interesting and the gardens and grounds beautiful. The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly.

We spent 2 1/2 hours exploring the grounds, laboratory, shops and gardens and homes. We started at the Banyan tree Inn took a picture with Thomas. We went to the ticket office and bought tickets for a guided tour. Bobby was very interesting, he gave all eight of us behind the scenes information and answered all of our questions.

We saw Edison study, the moonlight Garden, Edison’s main house and guesthouse, Ford’s Estates, his car exhibit and had ice cream in front of the Mysore Fig Tree. Edison study, kitchen, bedroom, dining room & living room were on the first floor so we walked around the porch and looked into each room.

I was really impressed with the garden shop and all of the beautiful foliage. Most trees, flowers and shrubs were well marked. The golden shower tree Was pretty memorable. Besides orchids being everywhere there was a succulent garden, community garden, coconut grove, Rose Garden, citrus Grove and research gardens. If we were going straight home I would’ve enjoyed shopping in the garden shop.

Kept up so well. Lovely estates. So nice that the homes were simple and beautiful. Amazing grounds and the babyon trees are really a sight.

The museum is very interesting. I learned so much about these two geniuses. How can people be so smart. We owe lots of thanks to these two men.

Something not to miss.

We had a tour with Fred and learned so much about Edison and Ford. The museum itself had many rooms of different items related to Edison. We even saw his laboratory. We learn the process to get “Rubber”. Then our group followed Fred across the street to tour the estates. There also were flowers and plants for sale in the botanical garden at bargain prices! Plan to get there early and spend at least a half day. They also had a cafe there for lunch. It was a wonderful way to spend time and learn about these two famous men.

This is a nice spot to visit but not worth going out of your way. The self guided tour and museum were well done. The houses and grounds were beautifully decorated for Christmas.

Wonderful museum, gardens and winter estate of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The preserved history of these American icons is incredible at this destination! Multitude of historical pieces, well organized, labeled and displayed. The grounds of the estate are beautiful and the majority of plants are labeled with plant names for botanical reference! Only disappointment is that a few of the home we could not either enter due to summer camp programing and/or maintenance upgrades! But we saw 90% of the estate! Definitely worth that stop!

This place was very well kept as were the grounds. The houses were nicely kept and easy to view. I really enjoyed the museum!

Would never have gone but for accompanying out of town guests. This place is FABULOUS! We did the self guided tour. Beautiful grounds, interesting exhibits; a must do experience if you are visiting Fort Myers. It is NOT boring!

The Ford / Edison Museum and Winter Estates are worth the time to visit. Allow at least three to four hours to really enjoy the place. Staff was friendly and helpful. There are tree shaded places to sit while enjoying walking around the grounds. Masks and social distancing still required inside buildings, in May of 2021, which was okay with me.

A great history lesson on Edison, Ford, their inventions, friendship, and way of life. We did the self guided walking tour of all the facilities. The tour is given with an app that cites the history at each location. The grounds, gardens, historic homes and laboratories are very well maintained.

As a child I saw a movie about Edison. Therefore I admired that man since then. The estate is a beautiful place. The tour via the app was great: it gives you very good information about the estate and about Edison. Besides that, you will see a fine collection of old Fords.

Took the se)f guided tour through the app. Beautiful water views, grounds, and buildings. So much history and stories about two amazing inventors. Loved the interior of the houses, antique cars, and other antiques.

Se)f guided tour would be improved with better signage to get from one number to another.

I went to Edison and Ford Winter Estates during a trip to Fort Myers. I took a guided tour which was approximately $30. Our tour guide who called himself an historian😊, provided a lot of good insights regarding the lives of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford and kept us engaged during the entire tour. It was approximately 100 degrees outside that day but he managed to keep us in the shades most of the tour. You’re not allowed to go inside the homes but you can peek through the doors/windows. After the tours which was approximately an hour and a half, I went back inside the museum to visit some of the exhibits of Edison and Ford. I also visited the grounds which are well maintained and beautiful. I could have spent a whole day there.

I have visited the museum and found the staff very professional. Wear a mask inside the museum for the safety of others. A little kindness goes a long way. Thanks

I am not a museum person, nor a regular visitor of estates. They bore me. But this was an afternoon well spent.

We got the guided tour. Worth every penny. Our knowledgeable guide gave tidbits of all sorts, and was able to answer questions easily. It was fun, and I learned so much! My husband, a retired scientist, was totally in his element.

And the gift shop had plenty of options for everyone.

We really enjoyed the self guided tour of the estate. The entire complex (houses, lab, the grounds, the museum, the garage) was amazing. It was a beautiful day, so we sat on the benches by the bay and just soaked up the tranquility of it all. A must see in the area.

We did the self guided tour, which was very informative. Very interesting information about the families was provided. The homes and grounds are very well maintained.

This was a highlight of our visit to Ft. Myers.

Just plain interesting. They have a museum with plenty of Edison's inventions and some of his quotes. Homes that they had can be viewed and beautiful grounds. I watched a wedding on the grounds.

Beautiful area. Great information about Mr. Edison and Mr. Ford. The grounds are well maintained and the information about the houses and museum is easily accessible. The window into the past was fun and educational. The banyan tree alone is worth the ticket. Read the signs, listen to the audio tour. It makes the tour even more enjoyable!

beautiful estate and information was new to me. easy parking. Interesting plants. A lot of history from long ago about some very important Americans.

Spending time in the museum was very interesting, the actual grounds of the two estates has a lot of history. We enjoyed the tour guide and despite only being on the job 7 months was pretty fluent the key elements to share. This tour was worth the price, recommend the guided tour for an additional $5.
Make sure you leave yourself enough time to explore the grounds and museum after the guided tour. We arrived late afternoon and were time limited after the tour.

Kind of stumbled on this by accident. We had some time to waste before our flight, so we thought we would check it out. OMG what a wonderful tour. Had the guided tour, the guide was very knowledgeable. The gardens, trees, buildings, flowers, I could go on, but it is a must see and do if you are in the area.

Have been here several times. Love looking at the different plants through the estate as well as the historical homes. Definitely recommend visiting

We love going to the Edison and Ford Estates. We have been on several occasions and walking through the Butterfly garden and looking at all of the plants that they have for sale. This is a wonderful and peaceful experience. You will want to go back many times. You always see something new each time you go. Also, they have many special events going on during the year.

Excellent guided tour of the place. Highly recommend to get there when they open. Low crowds and easy to book a guided tour. By the times left, the line was out the door. Cute little gift shop.

This was very amazing. Even with the CoVid they did a remarkable job. The program on the phone to explain each point of the tour was excellent. Did not know that Ford and Edison vacation homes was next door. A must see.

Our extended family was in Fort Myers for a wedding, over a few days several members (25-90 yrs) visited and enjoyed this large museum and property. I thought the museum was very well done, noting many aspects of Edison and Ford’s entrepreneurial histories. The grounds and buildings across the street are nice, there should be improved signage for the main museum entrance as well as orientation maps outside the many separate buildings. Figure on spending at least two hours. The annual membership deal is good for larger groups like ours.

Did the self guided tour since the guided tours were sold out when we arrived. Self guided is nicely laid out and interesting but hearing some of the guides stories, I would suggest taking a guided tour. Pretty grounds with nice landscaping.

Bring your air pods. We brought one set and each used one ear piece for the audio tour. Worked great! Very compliant in terms of mask wearing. Great place to visit. Plan on a of couple hours. Bought some great vintage seeds in the gift shop.

We enjoyed our stop here. The location is great with plenty of free parking. The self guided tour was a good option for us. They do offer guided tours. The price was a little high. We enjoyed walking around the grounds too. They followed all covid procedures. The restrooms were very clean. Nice gift shop.

This was our third visit to Edison & Ford Estates, and it never disappoints. I would suggest visiting the museum first to get more of the background story before walking the grounds. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous. They are so well-kept. My favorite thing about the grounds is that so many trees and plants are labeled with their names and information. That alone is worth the visit if you are interested in that type of thing. The place is so large that you really don't need to worry about crowds, and plan to spend a good 3 hours here if you want to take your time and see it all.

Lots of history and very well maintained grounds. The audio guide worked perfect, you don't have to read all the signs, just follow the directions on the guide and listen to all the details. Great place, Bring water and walking shoes.

The tour of the Edison and Ford winter estate was fantastic! We took a self guided tour that was led by an app. The app was so much fun to listen to and very informative. I would recommend this tour to anyone! And by the way it is very much handicap accessible.

Very Educational, visit early in day before it becomes too hot. We did self guided tour which was nice via the downloaded app.

We visited on a hot June day, managed to get the last tickets on the 11.00 tour and it was well worth the extra money. Our guide explained the history of the area as well as the history of both the Edison and Ford families in Fort Myers. You move around the estate and our guide worked hard to ensure we always stopped in the shade rather than the blazing sun. We learned a lot of really interesting information and got to see the grounds and that both families lived on and into the houses (you aren’t allowed inside to protect them). There is also a huge museum on the site as well as an adjoining restaurant (which gave us free Key Lime because of our entrance wrist bands - it was delicious!). I would definitely recommend a visit here to see a bit of history and to see the beautiful houses, gardens and water front.

Very interesting history around Edison and Ford’s family life, their work and pleasure activities. Enjoyed the expansive museum quite a bit. Lots to see including antique cars, very early versions of light bulbs and batteries and Ford’s friendship with Connie Mack and interest in baseball. Worth the visit.

I was not a fan of visiting any museum until I visited this one!. It really captured my attention when I entered to its surrounding . What an energy it has. I firstly purchased my two tickets for a self- guided tour and later we crossed the street and got in the beautiful and impressive house and its location. I can dare say the best one on the Fort Myers’ coast !.
Inside you can nicely walk around and see all of the history and legacy of these two genius Guys : Edison and Ford.
The place will transport you to those wonderful years when the used to travel to Florida . And you also will see a part of the other history of both of them. Their inventions and contribution to the development of not only the transportation made possible to Henry Ford, you also will see the legacy of Edison .
I kindly would love to thank the entire staff that work at this awesome museum .
And I encourage anyone that visit Fort Myers to visit it, it is a must seen !!!.

Spent a few hours on a self - guided tour of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and gardens. Very interesting. We enjoyed the unique varieties of plants and trees. As mentioned in previous reviews I’ve read, you don’t go into the homes but rather look through plexiglas doors open at the top. It’s really all you need. You wouldn’t really glean anything different by going inside the home and looking through a roped off doorway. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Lots of benches on which to sit. The audio app was very good, highly recommend. I will say the guided tour happening at the same time that we were touring, was annoying as she had on a voice amplifier headset, for a small group of six people and took over w/ her tour regardless of who was in the area listening to the audio. My husband and I used one phone so as not to deplete our battery on each phone and we didn’t have ear buds with us. All in all a very worthwhile tour and reasonably priced.

This museum is about history and beauty. The history of Edison and Ford if you take the tour and the beauty in the plants that were gathered from all over the world. The photo ops are incredible.

We took the guided tour and our guide was very knowledgeable and fun. It was very hot touring the garden and houses so the air conditioned museum was a nice spot to cool down. The exhibits were interesting and educational. The tropical plants and palms were beautiful and they sell some in their garden shop.

We visited this place which seemed essential to us. Wow, what a luxury for the time. We visit the places from the outside, it’s a change and I found it very pleasant and friendly. A QR code provides access to an audio guide in French with short (but sufficient) comments on the place.

We went for the self guided tour and downloaded the interactive tour app. There were six of us and we thoroughly enjoyed the grounds, exhibits and gardens. Would recommend to anyone.

Edison established his Winter quarters here. The estate is well marked and has a tour guide that you can load online. A bit
Pricey but well worth the visit if you are interested in the Edison story. Great museum as well. Beautiful scenery and flora on the grounds abutting the river. Ford lived next door. You can see some antique Fords there.

Driving down McGregor Blvd lined with massively beautiful Royal Palm trees is the perfect introduction to the Edison Ford Estates.
Enter the Edison/Ford museum and be amazed at the genius that was these two men. Spend a good hour in the museum to see and read about their numerous inventions.

We took a 70 minute guided tour with Chase. It’s the perfect way to see the estates and meet people from all over the country. We also met folks from the Netherlands.

There is not much food offered, so bring your own. They do have a small store at the end of the tour which has ice cream pops, water and other snacks.

Enjoy!

We always visit the Estates when we come back for Christmas visits. Once again, was amazed as usual! As beautiful as ever! Merry Christmas!

Slightly disappointed, not a lot to see, automobile museum was just 3 cars, lot of garden areas closed. Looked in the houses not a lot to see.

Yep we went for the annual Woody , Ford Fairlane car show , glad the day was beautiful and the home tours nice because there were only 8 cars in the show. After that disappointment. We walked the grounds and through the museum, and realized we should have allotted more time for the whole thing. The trees are amazing. Historic ,beautiful views, alot of walking wear the right shoes. We will be back when we have more time.

A man from my hometown dedicated a tree in my father’s honor at this lovely site by the river. We weren’t even aware of this place had he not done so as we stay in Naples and only fly into Ft. Myers. Because we were limited on time, a staff member met us at the ticket office and provided us complimentary tickets so we could see the lovely African Tulip Tree and marker he had selected. What a wonderful way to remember my Dad nearly 2000 miles from his hometown. When we saw how beautiful the gardens were and how well maintained the homes of Edison and Ford were, we decided to skip visiting friends and take this wonderful opportunity to enjoy the grounds. I knew so little about these 2 amazing men and enjoyed soaking in the lovely setting.

We love this museum. We are able to see the actual house, laboratory, cars and more. The guides are very knowledgeable and friendly.

We enjoyed our self guided tour of the grounds and the estate. It was very pretty and informative. The reason I gave it 4 stars is because the app they had us use for the tour was not working properly for 2 of us (out of 4), and we thought the tour was a little overpriced.

Was surprised - fascinating visit of part of American history that we didn't know existed. Visited during Covid - bought tickets in advance. Small crowd, plenty of room to social distance. Very interesting displays. They have an app that you can download and listen to learn about each thing you're looking at, which was very helpful! Amazing that Thomas Edison and Henry Ford were good friends and next door neighbors. We spent 3 hours here - could have spent all day if we had read everything!

Edison & Ford Winter Estates is a fascinating historic destination in Fort Myers that delights both history buffs and nature lovers. The manicured properties offer a unique insight into the lives and achievements of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford – two icons of American history.

Especially impressive is the original Edison laboratory, where you get the feeling of going straight back in time. The houses are beautifully restored and give an authentic impression of the lifestyle of the turn of the century. The botanical garden is also a highlight – with rare plant species from all over the world, including a giant banyan tree that is worth a visit on its own.

The museum is informative and modern in design, with many interactive exhibitions about inventions, automobiles and the close friendship between Edison and Ford. The staff are friendly, helpful and very well informed.

An all-round worthwhile visit for all ages – educational, inspiring and beautifully located on the Caloosahatchee River.

This was a wonderful trip back in time. A history lesson about the lives of our country’s inventive geniuses. The properties are impeccably maintained and preserved. It provides insight and appreciation of our country and southern Florida’s culture and economy juxtaposed against the lives some of the era’s wealthiest and most powerful industrial leaders.

We opted for the ap-based self guided tour which did a great job informing us while allowing us to walk the grounds at our own pace. We were fortunate to engage one of the guides, Ann Mullenix, who provided us with an entertaining, extemporaneous, and lengthy lesson on the Edison family and the history of the estate. Her passion and enthusiasm made our visit so much more enjoyable because of her.

Reasonably priced. Thoroughly educational and informative. Maybe less so for young children. We highly recommend this tour for visitors to the Fort Meyers area.

We could have stayed there for many hours but pressed for time we only stayed 2.5 hours. For $25 you visit the exterior of Edison and Ford’s houses. Edison's house has the authentic furniture, Ford's does not. Edison's life is relatively little known and his inventions are explained in the museum near the museum entrance. It takes a good hour for the houses, an audio guide is available in French with the application. The museum is vast and details the time, context and developments of the inventions. Free parking.

Definitely a place to see if you are in the area. Pay for the guided tour and plan to stay all day. You can walk to downtown fort Myers have lunch and return. So much to see and learn. The museum, the grounds, the restored homes and the laboratory are all a must see! I have already been twice and plan to return in the future with family and friends.

We visited recently as a family of four with our 11- and 13-year-olds and paid for the live guided tour—I’m so glad we did. It was wonderful to simply follow along, hear the history, and ask questions. The grounds were absolutely beautiful, and we loved exploring all the rooms. The museum had more to see than I expected, but the real star of the experience is the stunning grounds.

Great collection of mementos & inventions of two individuals who dramatically contributed to improving our everyday lifestyles. We had a guide today who did an excellent job narrating our tour & keeping us in tow. Great history of Thomas Edison & Henry Ford’s friendship throughout their lives, as well as preserving an insurmountable number of historical artifacts attributed to the two. The pair’s winter estates include the original houses as they existed on the bank of the Caloosahatchee River in Ft. Myers. This is a must see when come to Ft. Myers area and/or a good reason the go there.

Went to see the houses that are immaculately kept! It was a relaxing walk around the compound and seeing the houses. We took our time seeing everything went on a self guided tour so that we could do our own thing. They did have guided tours and people seemed to enjoy them. When listening to the guides they seemed well informed. Make sure you visit the museum, lab and both houses across the street. There is a small trailer cafe - Banyan Cafe - it had homemade treats and excellent cappuccino’s. We stopped there and had a treat - delicious! A definite go and see attraction!

I was in a group of six and we took the guided tour. The tour guide was excellent and we really learned a lot! While this tour was about 70 minutes, we were glad we allowed more time to tour the museum, gift shop and grounds.

Very informative and gives insight into the lives of Edison and Ford. It is an outdoor tour so be prepared to walk. There are benches for sitting. I recommend going with the tour guide.

Great place to visit, as specially during the Christmas season at night. Leave lots of time to wonder the grounds and sit and enjoy the view. Lots of history and the feeling of old FL

I went as part of a group tour. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable! I was slightly disappointed that you only get to see the inside of the houses through open windows. There is an extra charge and a separate tour to actually go inside and view the rooms up close. Museum and laboratory are included in the tour. I still felt that the $25 admission is high but I guess you are supporting the preservation efforts.

Very relaxing place - it's easy to understand why Edison and Ford like to be here. Especially garden is super cool, next time I'll come with good book. Would be great just to read sitting on the front of water.
We love the place and definitely will back

We had a very nice self guided tour of the property! The App was easy to use! Lots of information! Houses were well kept and beautifully maintained!

A pleasant and interesting visit. Despite the importance of the owners (Ford and Edison), the rooms of the buildings are perfectly furnished and preserved, and it seems like we have gone back in time.

Two famous men decided to have their winter residence is next to each other.

This is a good opportunity to see both during a single visit, enjoy the gardens, and get a peek into the historic homes.

A lovely experience, especially decorated for Christmas. So interesting to see Ford’s cars and all of the history.

A great way to spend a relaxed day when you need a break from the beach. The exhibits are beautiful and well preserved and a great way for travelers and locals alike to learn about the history of Fort Myers

Dave was an outstanding tour guide. He was knowledgeable, interesting, funny and his love of his subject shone through.

Highly recommended

We visited the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in the late afternoon on a weekday in September. There were only us in the whole estate. Admission fee was USD 50 for adult.
This place is a must to see for everyone. These guys changed our lives forever.

Our alumni group will be coming to the Edison/Ford Winter Estates on Jan. 13. I misplaced (lost) the yearly pass that we were mailed ahead of our arrival. Natalie was able to replace our pass and mail it to us!!! Natalie, what a sweetheart. What service! We are so thankful!

We enjoyed visiting the property. You can do a 1.5 hour guided tour for an extra 5$ or an audio tour on your phone with just the price of admission. We did the latter and enjoyed it. I like to go at my own pace so this worked. This is definitely worth seeing if you are in the area.

It is always interesting to see what the pioneers of the past toiled over to contribute to the progress of our present day. The estate homes are viewable through "dutch door" styled openings which you can poke your head in and have a peek. The groundskeepers house is the only one you can actually go into and it is empty rooms with history in photographs on the walls. You are able to see quite a lot with the peek throughs on the other buildings. There are many plant species on the property as well. There is a museum that houses several vehicles from Ford as well as early inventions of Edison. We got a real treat when one of the staff played a couple of Edison's phonographs on display! You can also have a look into Edison's workshop/laboratory.

Stupid ticketing procedure for night show. Indoor closes at 4:30 for tickets. Outdoor starts at 5:30. We got there at 4:32 and could not do both

What a gem! We had an hour to kill & learned about this place on TripAdvisor. So glad we did. Absolutely the highlight of our trip. These homes are absolutely gorgeous and so is the landscape. Check out the gift shop at the end of the property. Read the touching family story about the taxidermist fish (located on both sides of the house).

The whole family enjoyed learning about the lives of Edison and Ford and their contributions for our American way of life. The Christmas lights were beautiful.

We did a self guided tour which was good and can explore all the grounds at your leisure. Property very well done and laid out. Very informative. Outstanding flora and trees throughout the grounds and multiple gardens to explore. Museum well done and very extensive. Block off 2-3 hours of you want to see everything. Would recommend.

Museum was interesting. That was about all. Have to view the homes via a window, can't go inside. Would like to have more written info about them @ the site.

Glad we discovered this on our way to the Edison and Ford winter estates. Was a pretty drive down the palm lined trees of beautiful homes.

It is always fun to step back in time walking through the same spaces where historic figures shaped the path of our society. The docents at the museum and estates are very knowledgeable. The day we attended, they started up an old Ford Model T for a school group. We really enjoyed the narrated self-paced audio tour but will probably do the guided tour next time to learn some different details. The plant resources are also fabulous if you are gardening in SW FL.

The Estates are well cared for, but you can only see so much from a distance. Most areas are roped so far back you cannot see much and the entire second story of both residences is closed. The museum is very interesting if you want to read a lot. They were fascinating men. The Christmas decorations were beautiful.

Great location for a stroll along the banks of the Caloosahatchee River and taking a trip back in time to see how two great American inventors/engineers spent their winters. Good information options from guided tour to informative signage. Well worth a visit!

First class museum and gardens ! If you are fan of Edison & Ford , you will like them more. If you are vaguely aquatinted with them from history class, you will come to appreciate them. We entered the museum part first at the ticket desk to counter the crowd. The museum and laboratory filled with great items. We learned a lot. The homes and gardens are beautifully maintained. Plan three hours and take your time. There is a snack bar and a path through the garden to a Pincher’s restaurant. What I really liked was being able to walk all around the property where the homes were located.

Very relaxing and informative to walk through the homes and around the estate. The nursery has expansive choices in plants. We went in the late afternoon and was able to walk along the water and enjoy the sunset.

This was a very informative tour. Our guide made it enjoyable and interactive. Everyone learned so much about this amazing family (ies). Even our early teen grandsons enjoyed it. We opted for the live tour verses the headset self guided. It was nice to be able to ask questions.

We spent several hours touring the property. We got the guided tour instead of the self-tour and our family of four were the only ones on it at that time. There is a lot of interesting history here and our tour guide Chase was very knowledgeable. Since it was a Monday, we were unable to tour the inside and were told it was only open for inside house tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This could have been made clearer on their website. There is a very nice gift shop with reasonable prices, and we bought a few items. We went back in the evening to view the Christmas lights, and we enjoyed walking along the river. We did get some hot cocoa from one of the food trucks, but it wasn't worth the $5 a cup. Overall, we highly recommend this historical location and recommend the guided tour.

First off, the location is not well marked, we pulled into the driveway with the ornate gate which was not correct. There is sufficient parking and there are plant specimens near the parking lots.
The gate admission felt a little steep.
The museum gave insight into the lives of these 2 men and their families who made this area their winter residence.
The actual houses are not that big, and the rooms can be viewed from the porch.
The plant specimens are nicely labeled, providing an opportunity to see exotic species without leaving the country.

I did not know what to expect but this visit was fantastic. We took a guided tour, had a great guide who truly loved his job and the history of the owners and all.
I learned a lot - namely pick up truck - and the grounds are easy to walk thru and enjoy after the tour. The museum is also interesting…
Really suggest people in Fort Myers go visit the estates….

Beautiful Trees and great photo opportunity! It’s free to see the trees and walk around the grounds and parking area. There is a small gift shop too. It’s worth stopping for a few minutes to see that. We were on our way to the airport and wanted to just see the trees. We stayed about 15 minutes or so and got some great pictures of our group. Maybe next time we will do one of the tours when it’s not so crowed.

Toured the winter estates and museum. Easy two hours without rushing. The history of the relationship between Thomas Edison and Henry Ford was fascinating. The camping trips with Firestone, Burroughs, and multiple Presidents must have been enlightening, to say the least. Edison’s interest in botany shows in the gardens around the winter estates. Highly recommended.

Definitely reserve the 1 hour tour of the estate, it's well worth the price & hearing from knowledgeable docents, the "ins & outs" of the Edison/Ford friendship, and go behind the scenes meeting the people in both of these famous men's lives. Visitors walking thru the various museum rooms get a close up of Edison & Fords many inventions, a chance to visit Edison's early lab & Fords garages (seeing early cars & trucks) and peer into the "side by side" winter homes of both men too.
NOTE: Bring a sun hat & water bottle and at the end of the tour take advantage of the little Cafe' for ice cream, coffee & other beverages.

My 4 kids and husband just visited. Beautiful grounds and very interesting. We did the family audiotour and loved it. Worth the price!

Today we spent nearly four hours at the Edison and For Winter Estates. I wish we'd reserved another hour or two to really take in the museum closely. But we did enjoy ourselves on a beautiful day taking the self-guided audio tour. The whole experience has so much to recommend it, with elements to satisfy a variety of interests—history, technology, culture, horticulture, architecture, and family dynamics. Well worth the hours we spent here.

The extensive gardens, with lots of shade and benches, are beside a scenic riverbank. There is a huge variety of native and exotic plants, most with identifying labels. Really a spectacular Old Florida garden, and a garden center where many can be purchased. The summer home of Ford, and larger Edison estate, are beautifully staged and furnished, and good signage and self-guided tour are informative and low-key. Friendly staff is another big plus, and guided tours are available. The museum is small, but very interesting. The display of antique autos is outstanding. Ample easy parking and plenty of restrooms make this a real visitor-friendly site. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire day, and would have stayed longer in cooler weather!

We loved touring the winter estate. We took the self tour which was easy to navigate. The grounds were breathtaking - I felt like I was walking along with Edison himself. The main houses and caretakers cottage were a step back in time. Be sure to see the Ford antique cars on display.

This complex is lovely and in a gorgeous part of Ft Myers. The houses and grounds are extremely well maintained. The museum is informative and well done. I especially loved the trees. There are numerous unusual,specimens and the6 are well labeled. Take your timehere to enjoy all parts of these informative exhibits.

We enjoyed our visit, great information, lovely grounds to walk around. We loved the beautiful trees as well as the museum.

Beautiful scenery and history. Everything was so well preserved, it kinda makes you feel the real Florida in all its glory. Before
I recommend it.

This is an interesting place in a beautiful setting. Surprisingly, the estate recieved very little hurricane damage, so it still is in perfect condition. The houses and grounds are kept in great condition and the staff were all helpful and very friendly. The only downside is you aren't able to walk around inside the homes, you can only peek inside over a glass barrier. Other than that, its a great way to spend an afternoon, espcially if the weather is nice. Also, the little cafe near the front entrance makes some great drinks! :)

We went Mothers Day afternoon and wasn’t crowded.We bought our tickets and elected to take the self guided tour with the phone app and the map.Beautiful grounds and the buildings were all in immaculate condition.The museum was very informative and educational.
There is a nursery where you can buy some of the plants that they raise.
A couple gift shops are very nice and have refreshments available.
A lot of families and the children seemed very interested in seeing what life was like in those days.

Weather was cold and overcast so decided to check out Edison’s wintering home and was really surprised by the homes, grounds and gardens. Everything is well maintained and immaculate. Such a lovely spot. Be sure to go early to beat the crowds.

What a lovely place to spend a few hours. The grounds are beautiful and the history is very interesting. Their use of an app to support the self guided tour was great. We were all glad we went.

Well worth a visit. Beautiful grounds are well maintained. Banyan Tree and Mysore Fig were amazing. The self-guided tour is good. You can download their app and listen on your phone. Just the right amount of information. They have guided tours as well that are a bit pricey. We felt like the amount of people on the tour was too large for the price. The information on the app is plenty good enough. Much to see outside and the landscape has plenty of shade with benches along the way to sit. The museum was large with a lot to go through. They had a demonstration of one of the early, (1900), record players. The sound was about as good as a cell phone. Very good for the times. Amazing. Cars were interesting. One of them is kept in running condition. Go early to avoid the heat and crowds. We went at 9:30 and when we left at 12:30 it was starting to get crowded. They do have a food truck for a light lunch but we didn't sample. A couple of stores for souvenirs. Very handicapped accessible and good locations for the restrooms. Prices at the plant store were very good. Plan for at least 3 hours. Ok for the kiddos but young ones may be board.

Before I saw the facility, the lady who sold the tickets helped me download the app so I could listen to the tour on my iPhone. Very nice. East.

The presentation of the buildings and rooms is really good. Everything looks like Tom and Henry were there yesterday!!! Great condition.

Well worth two hours if your in Fort Myers.