Edison works Fort Myers lab

COURTESY PHOTO Don Robertson portrays Thomas Edison at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates on Sunday's throughout the summer.

Thomas Edison will be in his historic botanic research lab every Sunday throughout the summer from noon until 4 p.m. at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. The historic interpreter portraying Edison will provide background and insight into the scientific research site.

Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the lab with the inventor, ask questions, take photos and have a one of a kind experience in the original lab where Edison searched for a source for natural rubber from the plants and trees he located at his Fort Myers estate.

The Edison Botanic Research Lab is one of the most important buildings on the site. During World War I, Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone became aware that the supply of rubber in the US could be cut off and there would be major costs to their industries and to the American Economy. In 1927, they set up the Edison Botanic Research Company and built the historic laboratory.

Tickets for the show, museum and lab are $10 adults and $5 children and free for Estates Members.

The Estates are open daily from 9a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and are an official project of Save America's Treasures at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a Florida Historic Landmark. For additional information call 334-7419 or visit the Web site at www.efwefla.org