May 24, 2018
Summer Deal for Families at Edison & Ford Winter Estates
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 24, 2018) – This summer, Edison & Ford Winter Estates is offering a special deal for families. During the months of June, July and August, visitors may bring a child, 12 years old or younger, for free. One child will be admitted free per one paid adult.
Kids have fun inventing in the Smithsonian Spark!Lab at Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
The site includes the historic winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, caretaker’s homes of both inventors, Edison’s study, a 15,000-square-foot museum and the botanic laboratory — a National Historic Chemical Landmark. There also are more than 20 acres of botanic gardens to explore, including the historic Moonlight Garden, Clara’s rose garden, a succulent garden, the almost century old Banyan and Mysore Fig trees and numerous other plants and trees from all around the world.
The air-conditioned museum is full of exhibits and artifacts that children and adults alike can enjoy. Antique car enthusiasts will find Edison’s personal car, a 1916 Model T; Ford’s “Chuck Wagon,” a 1918 Model T Roadster; and a 1908 Cadillac Motor Car. Visitors will also get to see and hear several examples of Edison’s favorite invention, the phonograph. Families will learn how many patents Edison had, what his most profitable invention was, how Edison and Ford met and many other interesting facts.
There are two new exhibits in the museum: the Smithsonian Spark!Lab and the Timeline of Innovation. The timeline is a chronological display of Edison’s and Ford’s inventions. The Spark!Lab is a fun, hands-on activity center where kids are encouraged to invent. The exhibit has five stations that rotate every few months, so return visitors can try out something new. The activities allow for groups and families, so parents and grandparents can enjoy the activities along with their children and grandchildren. Edison Ford is one of only nine museums across the country to have a Smithsonian Spark!Lab.
Activities in the Spark!Lab include, Invent-A-Vehicle, where children sketch and then build a vehicle to solve a specified problem; Flying Machines allows participants to engineer flying inventions using the construction materials provided; High Wire Driver incorporates a variety of building components and simple motors to invent devices that can roll along a cable suspended above a table or work surface; Snap Circuits offers children a chance to work with real circuits just like the ones found inside radios, televisions, computers and other electronic devices, but without wires or solder; and visitors can examine various plant samples through the lens of a microscope in the Microscope Plant Exploration station.
The site is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. There are several tour options, including self-guided audio tours, historian-led guided tours, specialty inside-the-homes and inside-the-lab tours and garden tours. Throughout the year, the site offers public events and new exhibits. For tour times and additional information, visit the website at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org or call 239-334-7419.
Back to Press Releases