In the 1700s, Europeans dubbed the native Americans living in Florida the "Seminoles" - the "wild ones." Three wars were fought in the 1800s to remove the native Americans from Florida, but the Seminoles survived - and never signed a peace treaty. The unconquered Florida Seminoles adapted to life in the Everglades, eventually thriving in the modern world while preserving their cultural traditions.
The sunshine state has a rich and colorful history. For hundreds of years the state has attracted dreamers, opportunists, inventors and fortune-seekers. WGCU's Untold Stories aims to preserve the history of Southwest Florida communities.