Overlooking Washington, DC, Fort Myer holds a commanding view of America's capital. Built in 1863 from the Custis-Lee estate, one of 70 defensive Civil War fortifications of the capital, this historic US Army post was known as Fort Whipple. As the war ended and reconciliation began, only this fort remained and was later renamed to honor the US Army's first signal officer, Brig. Gen. Albert J. Myer. These acres of Arlington Heights are distinguished by unique events, including the beginnings of military aviation, the Army Cavalry showcase, "The Three Sisters," and the National Weather Bureau. During World War I, Army officers trained here to fight "Over there," and today two units call Fort Myer home: the Army Band ("Pershing's Own," since 1942) and the 3rd Infantry ("The Old Guard," since 1948). Photographs and text present the evolution of this national landmark in its first 100 years, including its buildings, people, and events.
"A fascinating tour of the historic neighborhoods along McGregor Boulevard, blending local history and documenting Fort Myers's architectural legacy with lavish photographs."--Gerri Reaves, author of Legendary Locals of Fort Myers"With its striking photographs and engaging stories of past and contemporary characters, this book captures the architectural and historical significance of houses in Fort Myers."--Linda Stevenson, principal architect, Stevenson Architects, Inc."Covers a unique historical precedent by using architecture as snapshots of time during Fort Myers's growth and development to show how it has become the dynamic and successful city it is today."--Guy W. Peterson, FAIA River & Road is a visual and narrative history of the architectural evolution and urban development of Southwest Florida as shown in Fort Myers, Florida. A top tourist destination to this day, the Gulf Coast city has been home to the winter estates of the rich and famous, including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and oil tycoon Ambrose McGregor. The city's famed McGregor Boulevard continues to draw visitors with its eclectic blend of houses and unique histories dating back to the nineteenth century. As the twentieth century dawned, the reputation of Fort Myers as a haven for health cures, business opportunities, and tarpon fishing lured adventurers and opportunists. Hundreds of attractive homes of varied styles were designed for millionaires and magnates during the boom of the Roaring Twenties and beyond, and today houses representing every significant architectural period--including the Spanish, Mediterranean, Italian Renaissance, Greek, and Colonial Revivals--line the roadway along the Caloosahatchee River. Jared Beck and Pamela Miner share stories about the creators and owners of these one-of-a-kind properties, accompanied by striking photographs. Historic places have been carefully preserved and creatively renovated according to the visions of their owners, and modern designers have been drawn to the neighborhood to build masterpieces of their own. These dream homes showcase the work of nationally renowned and local architects, including Henry Van Ryn, Gerrit de Gelleke, Nat Gaillard Walker, William Frizzell, Robert Matts, Bruce Gora, Kathryn Kelly, and Jeff Mudgett. With privileged access into many of the private residences, Beck and Miner unveil the historically and culturally vibrant neighborhoods at the heart of Fort Myer's past and present. Jared Beck is an urban planner with a focused background including urban redevelopment, historic preservation, and community development. Pamela Miner is a historian with experience in historic preservation, museums, and education and is the former curator of collections and interpretation for the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
Although best known as the winter home of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, Fort Myers has one of the most engaging and extraordinary histories of any city in Florida. The spawn of a hurricane, Fort Myers began as a U.S. Army post during Florida's Seminole Wars. During the Civil War, it became a battleground between Confederates and Yankees for cattle and, after the war, a gun-slinging cowboy town. New York cartoonist Walt McDougall blew into the area on a fishing trip, and his glowing description lured down other wealthy Yankee sportsmen who helped turn this isolated frontier town into a modern tourist destination. Historian and author Cynthia Williams explores the hidden stories behind the growth of this beautiful city.
In these photographs, the neighborhood service station, the drugstore soda fountain, and steamboat mail-delivery live on. Nineteenth-century storefronts stand amid condo towers. Cattle stroll to market, and post-World War II newcomers transform the paradise of Gilded Age millionaires and tin-can tourists. Fort Myers continues to reinvent itself, maintaining the treasures of its richly storied past.
Fort Myers lies on the beautiful, wide Caloosahatchee River. Tropical flowers and palm trees dot the landscape, which today boasts a revitalized downtown, historic neighborhoods, shopping, and a breathtaking waterfront. The fort itself, named for Lt. Col. Abraham Myers, was established to quell uprisings and help the Indian Removal campaigns. It was later used by Union forces in the Civil War, abandoned, and then reoccupied by courageous settlers who relied on the cattle business and farming to sustain families and the community. In the late 1800s, Fort Myers began to attract famous winter residents, such as electrician Thomas Edison, as well as wealthy sportsmen trying their luck at tarpon fishing. When the iron horse finally arrived in 1904, Fort Myers experienced an economic transformation, and her days as a frontier cow town were numbered.
