Fort Myers, The City of Palms

By Kathleen Walls

"There is only one Fort Myers, and ninety million people are going to find out about it." Thomas Edison made this prediction in 1885 when he discovered the tiny Florida village on the banks of the bamboo lined Caloosahatchee River. He was so smitten with the tropical paradise kissed by balmy gulf breezes that he built his winter home there.

Ironically, many of the visitors who swarm to Fort Myers do so to visit the home of that great man and the adjourning home of his friend, Henry Ford. The homes of these giants of industry and science are fascinating for the glimpse into the personal life of the two men who changed our lifestyles more than any other inventors of the twentieth century.

As you approach the Edison estate, the first thing you see is the gigantic Banyon Tree. Actually "gigantic" falls far short of describing this hugh tree. His friend, Harvey Firestone, sent it to him from India. He wrote of the small sapling, "Plant this where it has plenty of room. I'm told it spreads." Spread it did! It now covers over 400 feet. Multiple trunks, limbs and roots intertwine to create a fantasy panorama.

The estate's 14 acres are covered with unusual trees and plants. Edison was a dedicated botanist. He collected unusual plant from all over.Small gardens, such as the one just outside his lab honoring his second wife, Mina Edison, sprout all over the grounds.

Mrs Edison was a great admirer of John James Audubon. She had an aviary installed on the grounds. In spring and summer you can admire the bright plumage of the tropical birds. She also like to swim so Edison installed the first swimming pool in Florida in 1910. He provided cement from his own company in New Jersey and had it poured between forms. The pool still is in good condition today. Incidently, Edison never swam in it. He didn't believe in exercise. In spite of this, he lived to be eighty four.

The house was designed by Edison, himself, and reflects the relaxed pleasant lifestyle he cultivated in Florida. A fish, caught by his son is mounted on the porch. These fourteen foot wide porches were built surrounding the house and double French doors were installed on all four sides to help cool the home. The furnishing is authentic to the period. There is even a light switch installed by Edison that still works.

If you're lucky, Mina Edison will arrive as you tour her home and regale you with some of her recollections. The lady portraying Mrs. Edison is quite authentic.

Thomas Edison and Henry Ford had a lot in common. When they met in 1896 and became instant friends. When the house adjourning Edison's Florida home, one he had originally designed for a former friend, came on the market in 1916, Ford purchased it for a summer retreat for his family. The home displays much of the original furnishings. A highlight of his home are the three early model fords. The cars are preserved in excellent condition.

The Edison laboratory highlights his prodigious amount of inventions. It reflects a man whose business was also his hobby. Edison did like to relax sometimes. One of his favorite pastimes was fishing. One story about him is that he would frequently fish without any bait. This allowed him to think uninterrupted. He gave several fishing tournaments. That tradition is still followed today. The Southwest Tarpon Tournament is held annually the first week in July and draws anglers from all over the world.

When you tour the attached museum, you finally realize the scope of the man. His inventions ranged from cement to phonographs, from latex to light bulbs. Here you also find the personality of the man. His office shows his love of books. His love of the outdoors is best reflected in his early version of a "camper". He has one of his cars set up with a traveling kitchen in back so that he and his family and friends could enjoy the outdoors in comfort. He would have loved one of today's modern RVs.

But Fort Myers and the adjacent area offer so much more. Of course, the beaches and sunny climate are still a big draw. From the gambler looking for high rolling casino action to the nature lover enjoying the wildlife at Babcock Wilderness Adventures, from the gardener touring the unique ECHO facility to drama buffs enjoying an Off Broadway play at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater or a murder mystery dinner theater on the Seminole Gulf Railway.

Babcock Wilderness Adventures is an in-your-face opportunity to glimpse the natural world of Southwest Florida. Located just North of Fort Myers in Punta Gorda, it offers a 90 minute tour of the 90,000 acre Crescent B Ranch. Although the ranch raises the conventional cattle and vegetables, they have a unique product. They are one of the few licensed alligator ranches in Florida. They also have a protected herd of American Bison on the ranch. Because the original owner, Edward Vose Babcock, was conservation minded long before it became stylish, much of the ranch is preserved in its natural state. Part of this is the 10,000 acre Telegraph Cypress Swamp. The ninety minute swamp buggy tour transverses this swamp and often brings you face to face with deer, raccoon, eagles, many varieties of wading birds and countless other wildlife. They are working with a breeding program and have several caged Florida Panthers. You will definitely see at least one alligator. Often visitors see more alligators than they would like.

Two visitor who preferred a few less "gators were Lawrence Fishbourn and Sean Connery. Their brush with the reptile came about when they were filming "Just Cause" at the ranch. There was one scene where they were retrieving a gun from a culvert channeling a small stream. As the two actors reached into the culvert, a large alligator burst forth from it. It only took the ranch hands a few minutes to remove the reptile. It took quite a bit longer for the director to coax the two movie heros back to the scene.

You may want to sample the "gator dishes in their Gator Shack Restaurant. Be sure and see the museum which is housed in part of the movie set of "Just Cause".

The Babcocks donated 65,000 acres to the state in the 1940's. Today that adjourning tract is the Cecil B. Webb Wildlife Management Area. It's a great place to observe wildlife.

Another great spot to watch a unique mammal, the manatee, is at Manatee Park. This park offers a manatee viewing platform along the Orange River where Florida Power and Light discharge water from their plant. The water draws the manatees. They love to frolic here, where it is several degrees warmer than the surrounding stream.

Another unique attraction is E.C.H.O., Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization. They are busy developing simple agricultural techniques and producing better seeds and plants to fight world hunger, particularly in third world countries. A tour of their test farm in North Fort Myers provides an opportunity to see plants not found anywhere else in this country.They experiment with plants such as the Moringa tree and the winged bean. The Moringa is known as "mother's best friend." Its leaves provide a calcium and vitamin rich baby food and supplement for nursing mothers, the young pods and roots can be eaten. The foliage can feed livestock. Because of its fast growth, the trees can be planted to provide a living fence to protect the family garden. The winged bean provides a "supermarket on a stalk." The leaves can be eaten like spinach, the pods like green beans and blossoms are delicious raw or fried. The dried beans are a substitute for butter or oil.

Along with one of the largest tropical plant collections in Florida, their nursery has such oddities as the Lipstick Tree, which looks like tiny lipsticks blooming. If squeezed the pod stains fingers a bright red. This used to be used to color margarine. Another oddity is a berry that causes other foods to change their taste. They also offer many unique gardening techniques that can be used in home gardens. You can buy unusual plants and seeds as well as books in the gift shop. Free tours of their demonstration farm are offered at 10 A.M. on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

Of course, this only scratches the surface of what the Fort Myers area has to see and do. There are four major museums, Fort Myers Historical Museum, Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, Useppa Museum and the Imaginarium, an interactive science museum for children.

Fort Myers also boast a murder mystery dinner train that is top noch, the Semnole Gulf Railway.

There are at least four wilderness preserve areas including the famous J.N. "Ding" Darling Refuge. Art galleries, theaters, parks and gardens abound. One other spot you want to visit is The Exciting New Shell Factory. This newly renovated complex contains restaurants, shopping, exhibits and boat rentals.

While there you will want to visit Captiva and Sanabel Islands. The Sanabel Lighthouse is one of the most frequently photographed spots in the area.

There are numerous public and private camping facilities in the area including Koreshan State Historical Site. This was the site of an early religious cult settlement. Much of the old village is preserved.

Fort Myers has not only lived up to Thomas Edison's prediction. It has far surpassed it.