Episode 402
The Naturalists

Because of North Carolina’s tremendous natural diversity, it has long attracted naturalists. The earliest ones set the stage for many of the scientists and natural history writers of today. A partial list would include John White, Thomas Harriot, John Lawson, Mark Catesby, William Bartram, Andre Michaux, and Asa Gray. What they saw and recorded, in words and images, from the late 1500s through the 1800s, act to inspire us to protect our remaining natural treasures.

In this episode, Exploring North Carolina features some of North Carolina’s best known naturalists/scientists alonsgide “The North Carolina Collection” at UNC-Chapel Hill where artwork and manuscripts of many early explorers and scientists are preserved. This intriguing half-hour also contains a personal appearance from, and remarkable interview with, a well-preserved, 250-year old explorer.