Sand Sculpting at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates

On November 4, 2010 from 9 AM – 5PM, award winning sand sculptor, Katie Corning, will create a sand sculpture of a Ford Model T and Edison and Ford inventions in the Ford Garage at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. 
 
In partnership with the 24^th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship & Beach Festival at Fort Myers Beach on November 10 – 14, the Estates is joining the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce in the celebration.   The Festival will feature sixteen of the world’s best Master Sculptors, along with Florida State and Amateur Sculptors.  Corning has competed in the Fort Myers Beach event and was a celebrity competitor on the Travel Channel’s television show, Sandblaster III:  The Extreme Sand Sculpting Championship.  Visitors to the Estates can watch Corning create a stunning work of art.
 
Admission is FREE on November 4^th with the purchase of an Estates Guided Tour Ticket. Special ticket price for Sand Sculpting ONLY on Ford Estate is $5 on November 4^th,  Estates Members FREE.   It is expected that visitors can view the sculpture in the Ford Garage for approximately one week.

Edison & Ford Winter Estates Awarded $50,000 Grant

 The Edison & Ford Winter Estates has been awarded a $50,000 preservation grant for restoration of the Edison Botanic Laboratory by the Florida Legislature through the Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, assisted by the Florida Historical Commission.  The Edison Botanic Laboratory is located at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida.

The Edison Botanic Laboratory was a project of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone who were searching for a viable source of organic rubber which could be grown and produced in Southwest Florida.  Through their work, they discovered that goldenrod leaves would  produce the latex to be distilled for a commercial source of rubber.  The Laboratory and the surrounding research gardens were active in the 1920’s and 1930’s and established the winter homes of the two inventors as a center for plant research.  Today, the site is one of the most visited historic home sites in America and serves more than 200,000 visitors and school children every year. 

The grant from the State of Florida is part of a total $630,000 project for restoration of the original 1928 laboratory structure.  Additional funds have also been received from The 1772 Foundation, HUD EDI grants, the Edison Ford Winter Estates Foundation, and the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Inc. It is planned that the laboratory building will re main open throughout the project. Architects for the project are Parker Mudgett Smith.  Chris-Tel Company is the restoration contractor. 

Last year, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates received the top award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for restoration of the Edison and Ford buildings along the river, and this year the site received the top national award for restoration of the historic landscape from the National Garden Clubs Inc. 

The Estates is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Estates is the winner of the 2009 National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.efwefla.org.

Record Numbers Visit Estates First Quarter of 2010

The Edison & Ford Winter Estates is proud to announce that January, February and March 2010 set an attendance record.  The Estates welcomed 90,658 visitors in a three month period – more than any other quarter since the Estates formed a new private corporation, the Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates, Inc. in 2006. 

“Dramatic change, growth, award-winning restoration and dedication to program development have contributed to the success of the Estates in the past several years,” says Chris Pendleton, Estates president & CEO.  “With quarterly tour visitation up, as well as additional participation in new programs in history, science and the arts, there has been a great resurgence of interest and use of the site by visitors as well as community members.  We are delighted to have so many people come to the Estates and enjoy their visit.”

Notable numbers include:

• 12 % Increase in attendance for January, February, March 2010 over 2009
• 1,842 All time record attendance for a single day on March 17, 2010
• 22 % Increase in Estates membership
• 32% Increase in Estates Group Sales

In addition to the many achievements, awards and program growth, the site remains one of the most visited homes in America and a national treasure which American history and its commitment to innovation, invention and national pride.

NEW Horse & Wagon Tours of Historic Downtown Fort Myers

Edison & Ford Winter Estates Open Easter Sunday
Canned Food Drive – April 2, 3, 4
NEW Horse & Wagon Tours of Historic Downtown Fort Myers 

The Edison & Ford Winter Estates located at 2350 McGregor Boulevard, will be open Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010 from 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM.  Tickets are available until 4:30 PM for self guided tours.  Estates members are admitted free and there are several reciprocal admission programs. 

In addition, Estates members, staff and visitors are encouraged to make canned food donations to support the Community Cooperative Ministries (CCMI) www.ccmileecounty.com in Fort Myers.  Visitors to the Estates throughout the weekend will receive a $1 off an Estates admission ticket (up to $4) for every can of food they donate.  CCMI has been providing food to the homeless, nearly homeless, homebound, seniors and children for 26 years in Lee County.

Easter weekend also kicks-off the Estates newest program, Horse & Wagon Tours of Historic Downtown Fort Myers.  On Wednesday, March 31 – Saturday, April 3 at 11 AM and 2 PM visitors can enjoy a horse and wagon tour that begins at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates and countinues along the Caloosahatchee River through downtown Fort Myers.  The tour is approximately one hour and is $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under.  The Horse & Wagon Tours will continue to run weekly Wednesday – Saturday at 11 AM and 2 PM throughout the summer.  Tour tickets can be purchased at the Estates ticket office.