A maze of mangrove islands meanders from Marco Island to Florida Bay, an ever-changing tangle of trees and shallows that inspired a larger-than-life name -- the Ten Thousand Islands. In this watery wilderness, hardy pioneers scratched out a living on high heaps of shells left by the Calusa Indians. In 1947, most of Florida's final frontier became part of the new Everglades. 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. Visit us online at: https://www.wgcu.org/ Follow us! Facebook: http://facebook.com/wgcupublicmedia Twitter: https://twitter.com/wgcu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wgcupublicmedia The Ten Thousand Islands, Florida: A Watery Wilderness | Untold Stories WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida #UntoldStories #WGCU #TenThousandIslands