The Seminoles were part of the economic and cultural development of the Florida frontier. The decline of the hide trade followed by the Great Depression forced Seminoles to seek alternative sources of income.

Beginning in the 1910s, some Seminole families worked at tourist villages along the Tamiami Trail and other highways. Visitors could walk through the villages to learn what daily life was like for the Seminoles. When tourist season ended each year, the families would return to their real homes.

In this lesson students view photographs of Seminole dolls to compare the hairstyles, beadwork and patchwork clothing of the dolls to those of the Seminoles. Students will also be able to describe the historic significance of Seminole dolls in the culture and economy.