Things to Do in Fort Myers, Florida

Fort Myers, Florida is teeming with attractions rich in local history. Besides museums that both entertain and educate, one can visit homes of Fort Myers' famous past residents. One of the most noted among these sites is the winter home of Thomas Edison. The 14-acre river estate of Edison was built in 1886 and is a must-see for area visitors. Highlights of the estate include Edison's own experimental laboratories and gardens, a collection of vintage automobiles, and original Edison phonographs. Present in his meticulously maintained gardens is a banyan tree 400 feet in diameter! Another special spot on this tour is the laboratory where Edison worked changed goldenrod into rubber. The house was donated by Mina Miller Edison, Thomas' widow, and was opened to public tours in 1947.

Henry Ford Wintered in Fort Myers

Another famous face that wintered in Fort Myers was auto manufacturer Henry Ford. His three acre estate, known by the name "Mangoes," is next door to the Edison estate and is also open to the public. Purchased by Ford in 1916, the home was chosen deliberately in order that Ford could be closer to his long-time friend Edison. Today, visitors to their homes can see the "Friendship Gate" that divides the two properties, reminding the public of the deep friendship that existed between the two families. Also present on the estate is a 1914 Model T and a 1929 Model A.

Burroughs Home, an Important Historical Site in Fort Myers

Yet another important historical site in Fort Myers is the Burroughs Home. Built in 1901, this waterfront home was especially significant for its location, due to its 250 feet of riverfront construction. The architecture of this particular house, Georgian Revival, is also unique because of the rarity of architect-designed homes for that time. In 1918, Nelson T. Burroughs, a self-made businessman, and his family purchased the home for $3,500 and continued to winter in Fort Myers for many years. The home was officially given to the city in 1983 by the daughter in the family, Mona Burroughs, to be entered into the official register of historical Fort Myers landmarks.

Fort Myers Historical Museums

One of the area's best museums is the Fort Myers Historical Museum. Built from a converted railroad depot and opened in 1982, the museum covers the history of Southwest Florida. Visitors here can see Calusa and Seminole Indian artifacts, an actual Spanish cannon of the early 1700's, and models of the original fort used in the Second Seminole War. Military history is also the focus for the museum's WWI and WWII display, including a recovered P-39 Airacobra fighter plane. There is even a skeleton of a saber-toothed cat that inhabited Southwest Florida over 10,000 years ago.

A different kind of museum can be found at the Imaginarium Hands-On Museum and Aquarium. This Fort Myers attraction offers interactive exhibits, such as the 3-D slide show, to induce learning in an entertaining way. Subjects covered include the environment, physics, anatomy, economy, marine biology, and weather. Also at the Imaginarium is the Imagateria Cafe and the Seminole Gulf Railway Excursion Train.