New exhibit on 18th century explorer to tour Alabama State Parks

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Bartram Asp
The Bartram exhibit. (Alabama State Parks Division)

William Bartram spent several years touring the South during the 1700s including the land which would eventually form the state of Alabama.

His findings focused on plants, animals and the expansive biodiversity of the region.

Now, you have a chance to go through some of those findings and how they relate to what we know today.

Alabama State Parks will be hosting an exhibit called In the Footsteps of Bartram: Discovering Alabama’s Natural Heritage at different parks throughout 2026.

“Explore the forest through the eyes of William Bartram, the famed naturalist who documented the Southeast’s remarkable biodiversity over 250 years ago. As we wander the trail, we’ll pause to notice the kinds of details Bartram recorded in his journals and reflect on how our forests have changed since his time—and what we can do today to help protect them for generations to come.”

Alabama State Parks

The traveling exhibit is sponsored by the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University. The exhibit is funded in part by the Leah Rawls Atkins Endowed Fund for Excellence and the Ann Draughon Cousins Endowed Fund for Excellence.

William Bartram in Alabama

Travels, an account of Bartram’s four-year journey through the region was published in 1791 and has been described as “one of the most delightful books…anybody ever read.”

In addition to collecting plants for export to England and his family’s nursery business, Bartram produced drawings and descriptions of the many people and places he visited, providing modern readers an unparalleled view of the early South.

Looking to check out the exhibit and hike one of the trails this year? Here’s the full schedule:

“Bartram’s legacy of curiosity and wonder, whether he was ‘paddling through innumerable millions of mating mayflies, marveling at the gilded coat of mail of the yellow bream or observing the frog whose call resembles the barking of little dogs’ continues to inspire how we interpret and protect Alabama’s natural treasures today. We look forward to welcoming the public as the exhibit travels to 12 state parks from December 2025 through January 2027 and as our statewide education team leads special programs ranging from hiking to kayaking to nature journaling to Junior Ranger activities and beyond!”

Renee Raney, Alabama State Parks’ Chief Naturalist

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Caleb Turrentine
Caleb Turrentine
Articles: 1046

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