Thomas Edison and Henry Ford are famous for their innovations in electricity generation and automobiles, respectively.

They also were at the forefront of a popular trend in Florida: Rich people from up north spending the cold winter months in the Sunshine State.

Edison first visited Fort Myers in 1885 after a doctor suggested spending time in Florida's warmer climate for health reasons, and he built a house along the Caloosahatchee River the next year. Ford made many visits to see Edison there and later purchased the property next door.

Southwest Florida became their vacation spot, Edison and Ford Winter Estates marketing director Lisa Wilson said. Edison spent most of the year in New Jersey, while Ford lived in Michigan.

"They came down here to escape the cold like many snowbirds do t

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