William Bartram, the first native-born American artist-naturalist, of Philadelphia, visited this site on Christmas Day, 1776. His visit to Fort Toulouse and his travels through the southeastern colonies from 1773-1777 reflected a search for specimens that blazed an epochal new trail in nature appreciation, and his observations and sketches from his four-year trip are priceless records of 18th century American natural history. Bartram studied and sketched plants, birds, and animals. He was a champion of the native Americans and wrote extensively about the Indians he had contact with during his four years in the colonies. These Indians returned his interest, and the Seminoles gave him the name PUC PUGGY, meaning The Flower Hunter.