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Opened in 1982, the Southwest Florida Museum of History is housed in the former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot. It is dedicated to the natural, cultural, and military history of southwest Florida, from ancient times to the present. Exhibits feature information and artifacts related to the Native American cultures that inhabited the region, the Spanish and other early explorers, the gradual settlement of the area, and the mining, agriculture, boating, and fishing industries. Visitors can also learn about the Seminole Wars and the old WWII military airfields. Other highlights include a 1926 La France fire pumper (an early version of a fire truck) and a 1929 Pullman railroad car. 

Southwest Florida Museum of History

This tour is a work in progress; more entries will be added soon. 

Thomas Edison (1847-1931)Thomas Edison's first visit to Florida was in 1885 when he was vacationing with friends in St. Augustine. They decided to take a trip to the southwest coast, which included a visit to Fort Myers. Impressed by the climate and the bamboo he encountered (he experimented with bamboo filaments for his incandescent light bulbs), he decided to build the winter retreat here in 1886.It took some time for the estate, which Edison called Seminole Lodge, to take shape but it would eventually include the main house, the guest house, the caretaker's house, Edison's study, a laboratory, and a swimming complex. Not surprisingly, Edison became one of the area's most famous winter residents. He and his family (his first wife had died in 1884 and her remarried in 1886) enjoyed outdoor activities including swimming and boating. The Edisons also hosted parties where other famous people attended including Henry Ford and John Burroughs.Edison passed away in 1931. His wife, Mina, continued to be active in Fort Myers, becoming involved in preservation and philanthropy. She owned the estate until 1947 when she deeded it to Fort Myers so it could become a museum, which it did until November of that year. As a result, the estate has remained largely intact. The majority of the furnishings in the main and guest houses belonged to the Edisons.Henry Ford (1863-1947)Edison and Ford became close friends in the 1890s when Ford started to work at the Detroit Edison Illuminating Company. Edison invited Ford and his family to visit Fort Myers in 1914. Like Edison, Ford was very impressed by climate and in 1916 bought the house next to Edison's, which was built in 1911. Ford named his new estate The Mangoes after the citrus trees that grew along the Caloosahatchee River, and he was always in Fort Myers on Edison's birthday on February 11. After Edison passed away in 1931, Ford closed The Mangoes as it was too painful to stay there. It was rented until 1947 when it became a private residence once again. In 1988, the city bought the Ford estate opened it to the public in 1990. In 2003, the two houses came under one non-profit organization, the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates.

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates are two historic adjoining homes that, along with a botanical gardens and other buildings, constitute one museum that celebrate the lives of inventor Thomas Edison and automobile manufacturer Henry Ford. The homes are listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places. The site features twenty botanical gardens, the Edison and Ford Museum, and seven other historic buildings. One of these is the Edison Research Laboratory where Edison tested thousands of tree samples to try to find a good source of rubber (he thought the country was too dependent on foreign sources of rubber during WWI; he did eventually finally discover a suitable rubber plant). The museum features several of Edison's inventions and other artifacts including a Model T car that Ford gave to Edison as a present. The gardens feature 1700 plants and one of the largest banyan trees in the country.

Edison and Ford Winter Estates

Edison Park School was built during the land boom of the 1920s, which was a period of tremendous growth in Fort Myers. Thomas Edison and his wife, Mina, attended the cornerstone laying ceremony on May 13, 1926. When the school opened, it helped ease the overcrowded school system which, until 1927, had consisted of just three schools. Edison Park was designed by local architect L.N. Iredell and it has 17 classrooms, a library, a nurse's office, and the auditorium. In terms of architecture, the building features a stucco exterior, a flat roof with a parapet of red clay tiles, several vertical way bays topped with curved parapets, and highly decorative terra cotta ornamentation surrounding the front entrance and adjacent second-story windows.

Formerly known as Edison Park School, Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts Elementary School is one of the oldest public elementary schools in southwest Florida. Built in 1927, the school is named after the subdivision it is located in, which itself is named after American inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931), whose historic winter estate is located just to the west. The school is also significant for its Mediterranean Revival architecture and the role it played in the community in the immediate years after its construction. It had the city's largest auditorium (500 seats) and operated as the city's main entertainment venue. The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Edison Park School

William H. Towles was born in Perry, Florida in 1852 to a farming family. As a young adult he started his business career in the cattle industry and then opened a general store in the town of Bartow. He got married and had a daughter by the time he arrived in Fort Myers in 1883. Sadly, his wife had died before he came here. He opened another general store with a partner who was already well established in the village, which at the time was unincorporated. Two years later, Towles not only built his house but he and his partner also built a large dock. Then in 1887, he severed ties with his partner to concentrate on his cattle business. This proved to be a good decision because he became one of the most successful cattlemen in Florida and eventually owned a schooner (a type of ship), steamer ships, and a warehouse. Towles' wealth increased even more after the Spanish-American War in 1898 when the price of cattle rose as the demand for beef increased. Towles prominence as leading businessman gave him the opportunity to become a civic leader. As mentioned above, he served as town councilman several times between 1892 and 1909 and later city councilman in 1911 and 1915, and as county commissioner for several years beginning in 1888 after Fort Myers became the seat of county government.Beginning in 1897, Towles began his effort to build a grand courthouse constructed with concrete. The one that had been built was a small wood-frame structure that he considered inadequate. Despite his efforts, the project failed to gain momentum as no one bought the bonds that would pay for the building's construction. As a result, a smaller (but still larger than the original courthouse) courthouse was built five years later. Towles, whose nickname was "Will Bill", kept the dream alive, however and in 1914 proposed the project again (he was still a county commissioner and was in fact chairman at the time). This time he faced opposition from some members in the community, including his rival Harvie Heitman, who was actually erecting a few concrete buildings of his own. Those who did not want the new courthouse thought the existing one was adequate and they criticized the tax the commissioners imposed to built it. In the end, Harvie and other opponents failed to stop the project and the courthouse was built in 1915.Towles passed away in 1921 and the family owned the house until 1930. It was moved at that time and remained a private home until 1954 when it became a funeral home. A bank bought it in 1988 and remained until 2004, at which point the house became the law office.

Named after one of the key figures in Fort Myers during the late 18th and early 20th centuries, the William H. Towles House is one of the city's most historic homes. It was built in 1885 and significant for its architecture and association with Towles, who was a successful businessman and prominent civic leader of the period, serving as both county commissioner and town and city councilman. However, he is perhaps best known for a successful campaign to build what is now known as the Old Lee County Courthouse. As for the house's architecture, its design combines the Colonial Revival and Mediterranean Revival styles. Its most interesting feature is the wraparound porch with arches on the first floor. Today the house appears to be the location of a law office. 

William H. Towles House

The courthouse was the second built for the county, which was founded in 1887 (Fort Myers was chosen to be the county seat in 1888). The first courthouse was erected in 1894. It was a wood-frame structure, not a large concrete structure envisioned by one of the county commissioners at the time, William "Wild Bill" H. Towles. Towles was a wealthy cattleman and apparently not one to be messed around with. Unfortunately, no one bought the bonds issued the build a concrete courthouse, forcing the commissioners to settle for the one that was built. Twenty years later, Towles' dream of a big courthouse remained strong. As chairman of the commissioners, he proposed the idea again and this time the process got off to a good start, as both the architect and contractor were hired quickly. However, Towle's long-time rival, Harvie Heitman, helped put the brakes on the project. He, along with other opponents, thought the existing building was suitable and they questioned the legal validity of the commissioners instituting a tax for the project. Heitman was also a builder himself and in fact was in the process of constructing a few concrete buildings at the time. So on two occasions in the summer of 1914, opponents obtained court orders (on technical grounds) to stop the project. In the end, further attempts to stop it were rejected and the existing courthouse was torn down. The size of the new courthouse proved justified in the coming years as the city grew. As noted above, the county occupied the courthouse until 1984. By then it was in need of repair and remained vacant for four years until restoration efforts began in 1988. The work was completed in 1989.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Old Lee County Courthouse is one of the more important landmarks in Fort Myers. It was built in 1915 and is an excellent example of Neoclassical Revival architecture. Interesting features include a buff-brick exterior and a grand main entrance with fluted Doric columns. The building is also significant for its role as the seat of county government from 1914 until 1984. Today, it houses the offices of the state legislature representatives and the Lee County Board of Commissioners. It is located next to the modern courthouse building.

Old Lee County Courthouse

As stated above, John T. Murphy first came to Fort Myers in the winter of 1899. He was there to look for potential business opportunities and liked the area so much that he decide to stay for the rest of the winter. Construction of the house began in 1900 and was finished the next year. Murphy was not the first wealthy person to build homes in Fort Myers. In the 1880s and 1890s other wealthy individuals from out of state built large homes here, most notably the scientist and inventor Thomas Edison (he also built a laboratory). However, Fort Myers was still a rather rugged place during those years. But after Murphy built his home, others did as well. This helped transition the city from a frontier town to a more established community. Murphy's house was the first of what would become known as "millionaires row." Murphy was also involved in local civic and business affairs. He was a major shareholder of a bank and, along with his friend and neighbor, built a seawall that protected the downtown area (they had already built a wall that protected their homes and realized how beneficial another one could be for the city).Murphy died in 1914 and the house was bought by a businessman from New Jersey. In 1918, he sold it to the Nelson and Adeline Burroughs and it would remain in the family until 1978 when the city acquired it. The Burroughs, who were from Chicago, lived here during the winter with their two sons, Roy and Raynor, and two daughters, Mona and Jettie. Nelson earned his fortune in stock raising, land investment, and banking. In Fort Myers, he earned a reputation for being a good businessman. He and Adeline also became known for hosting grand parties for their wealthy friends, including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Charles Lindbergh. Sadly, their sons died at a young age but their daughters remained active in Fort Myers throughout their lives. Mona died in 1978 and willed the house to the city.

Now a house museum and event venue called Burroughs Home and Gardens, the Murphy-Burroughs House is one of the oldest homes in the city and among the few remaining from the early 20th century. It was built in 1901 by wealthy cattleman John T. Murphy, who first arrived in Fort Myers in the winter of 1899 from Montana. The third owners were Nelson and Adeline Burroughs, who bought the home in 1918. Murphy, and especially the Burroughs, were prominent figures in Fort Myers in the early 20th century. The 2.5 story-house is also historically significant as an excellent example of Georgian Revival architecture. The exterior features a veranda that wraps around on three sides, a large "dancing" porch on the east side, bay and stained glass windows, a widow's walk on the roof, and decorative woodwork. The inside of the house features 11-foot high ceilings, decorative woodwork, a grand winding staircase, and fireplaces. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Visitors can take guided tours of the house. An organization called the Uncommon Friends Foundation manages the house as well as the Burroughs family records


Burroughs Home and Gardens

In the early 1920s, thousands made their way to Florida to enjoy the tropical climate the state became known for. Some were looking to take a vacation while others sought winter retreats. Speculation reached a high point during the Florida Land Boom in the middle of the decade when construction of homes and businesses soared throughout the state. Frank Alderman was among the many wealthy individuals who came to Florida. He, however, did not simply build a winter retreat; he built the house to be his permanent residence. It appears he also meant for it to be showpiece for his wealthy friends, including the inventor and fellow resident Thomas Edison who visited the house. The house is also unique for the fact that the walls were built with hollow clay with a stucco finish, which was a technique from northern Italy and southern Spain.Alderman is notable for his role as president of the First National Bank. He is regarded as the person who prevented the complete collapse of the local economy after the Miami hurricane of 1926, which devastated southern Florida, especially the city of Miami. Alderman provided much-needed loans to residents and businesses, which helped steady the local economy through another hurricane in 1928 and during the Great Depression. The house was used a commercial building for a few decades before the current owner bought and opened it as an Airbnb rental in 2018.

Erected around 1925, the Alderman House is one of the many historic homes on First Street, which also goes by the nickname "millionaire's row." Famous local architect Addison Mizner designed it in the Mediterranean Revival style. The house is also significant for its association with the man who built it, Frank Alderman, who was a prominent Fort Myers businessman and banker in the 1920s. In terms of architecture, notable features of the house include a front patio of Italian blue and white tile, a covered space (similar to a porch) with twisted columns, and a two-story square tower with coved friezes (the decoration along the top of the walls). The house is now called the Mizner Estate and three rooms are available to rent on Airbnb. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. 

Alderman House

Gilmer Heitman grew up in Lexington, North Carolina. He moved to Fort Myers in 1896 to work with his older brother, Harvie, who had opened a general store there in 1895. Heitman also established a citrus grove that he eventually sold. He used the money from the sale to build the county's first telephone service in January 1900, which also included erecting a commercial building to house the telephone exchange. Heitman next enrolled in a college in Atlanta to study business. He came back to Fort Myers where he continued his business activities. These include founding the Mutual Realty Company and Home Insurance Company, developing subdivisions between Fort Myers and Tice, developing the town of Bonita Springs (and building the Bonita Hotel), and serving as president and director of the Bank of Fort Myers. In the 1930s and 1940s, Heitman served in a number of roles including as director of Lee County Bank, director of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce, president of the Caloosa Grove Improvement Company, and president of the West Coast Land Company.In 1908, he married Nina Travers, the sister of a close friend, Mark Travers. Unlike some of the other wealthy individuals who lived in Fort Myers, including Frank Alderman (whose house is across the street) and inventor Thomas Edison, the Heitmans lived a rather quiet life and did not often host large gatherings at the house. They had two children, Gilmer Jr. and Dorothy. The family often took trips together, including one to Europe. Gilmer Jr. and his family moved into the house after his father died in 1960. It remained in the family until 1993. It was restored in 2001 and sold to the current owners in 2002, who opened it as a wedding venue in 2014.

The Gilmer Heitman House is one of the largest homes built in Fort Myers in the early 20th century. Named after prominent businessman Gilmer Heitman (1881-1960), who built the house in 1908, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its association with Heitman and its architecture. Heitman served in a number of roles, including as president and director of a bank, that contributed to the economic development of Fort Myers. The fourteen-room house is a fine example of the Queen Anne style. It features a wraparound porch with paired Ionic columns that encircles most of the first floor, a rounded southeast corner, and decorative interior woodwork. The house today operates as a wedding venue.

History of Fort Myers Walking Tour

Southwest Florida Museum of History

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