Abstract
Over the past century and a half, Thomas Alva Edison has been variously regarded regionally, nationally, and globally as a wizard, an American icon, and a genius. He ushered in the modern era with his invention of the incandescent light, phonograph, and improvements to the battery, telephone, and motion picture. But accompanying Edison’s accomplishments is a body of myth. Two related myths regarding the introduction of technology in Fort Myers, Florida, reflect Edison’s ability to inspire fiction. These myths demonstrate how one generation’s frustration with the failure of contemporary technology prompted it to create a tale of the previous generation’s rejection of technology.
Recommended Citation
Albion, Michele Wehrwein
(1997)
"A Myth Reflects a Generation’s Technological Disillusionment: Edison and the Electrification of Fort Myers,"
Florida Historical Quarterly: Vol. 76:
No.
1, Article 6.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fhq/vol76/iss1/6
