Estates to celebrate Henry Ford’s 159th birthday Saturday
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers will honor Henry Ford, the automobile icon, on his 159th birthday this July 30. Historian-led guided tours and self-guided tours will be available throughout the day. Visitors can learn about the inventions of both Ford and Thomas Edison, how the two men became acquainted, and see many of their inventions in the 15,000-square-foot museum.
During tours, historians explain that Ford worked for Edison, they became re-search partners and eventually very good friends.
Many other details are described, including how the two inventors first met at a convention in New York in 1896. At that meeting, Ford described his first automobile, the quadricycle, and Edison encouraged him to continue with his experiments. That encouragement catapulted Ford’s career and changed the direction of the automobile industry.
Ford first visited Edison in Fort Myers in 1914. Two years later, he and his wife, Clara, purchased the Crafts-man-style bungalow next door for $20,000. The home was nicknamed “The Man-goes” for the many mango trees on the property.
The site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For tour times and rates, visit EdisonFord.org.