Edison Park's 100th anniversary includes re-dedication for iconic 'Rachel at the Well' statue

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

On Sunday, the City of Fort Myers will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Edison Park Historic District and honor the restoration of the iconic "Rachel at the Well" statue after she suffered damage during Hurricane Ian.

Rachel was built in 1926 as a commission by the Edison family, living at the entrance of Edison Park on McGregor Boulevard. The statue has weathered storms, fire and hurricanes, sustaining the most damage to its surrounding structures after Hurricane Ian struck the Gulf Coast.

Restoration efforts for the statue started in 2017. When Hurricane Ian made landfall in 2022, Rachel's surrounding structures were damaged.

The statue's restoration was marked by a long wait time and even a lawsuit from a construction company that submitted a bid to fix it.

In February, the Fort Myers City Council approved funds to celebrate the statue's restoration. On Sunday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson will re-dedicate Rachel at the Well, now finally back to her original form.

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