Explore the Revolutionary War Battlefields, Museums, and Historic Sites in South Carolina

Explore the Revolutionary War Battlefields, Museums, and Historic Sites in South Carolina

By Jason Barnette

Learn where you can explore the history of more than 200 Revolutionary War battles fought in South Carolina. 

At Camden Battlefield and Longleaf Pine Preserve, hike the trails where Charles Cornwallis routed the Americans in 1780. Learn about the Southern Campaign at the Revolutionary War Visitor Center in Camden. Next door at Historic Camden, take a tour of the Kershaw-Cornwallis House. 

Walk the 1-mile trail at Ninety Six National Historic Site to a rebuilt stockade fort and the original Star Fort, where Americans laid siege to the British in 1781.

Visit King’s Mountain National Military Park to walk a trail through the 1780 battlefield where Patrick Ferguson led Loyalists against the Overmountain Men – and then see his grave on the trail. Drive into Gaffney to visit the James Williams Gravesite, a Patriot colonel killed at the battle, in front of the future Revolutionary War Discovery Center.

At Cowpens National Battlefield walk where Daniel Morgan defeated the dreaded dragoon, Banastre Tarleton. Drive through Spartanburg to Walnut Grove Plantation and take a guided tour to hear about the frontier family’s contribution to the revolution. Continue driving to the Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site to learn how Patriot subterfuge sacked a British unit. 

At the recently rediscovered Fort Fair Lawn in Moncks Corner, visit the British fort deemed “too formidable to take.” Learn about Francis Marion’s militia role at the Berkeley County Museum, then drive to the Francis Marion Tomb in St. Stephen.

Near Rock Hill, attend the annual Battle of Huck’s Defeat reenactment at Historic Brattonsville to relive the downfall of notorious Christian Huck at the hands of Patriot militiaman William Bratton. 

Explore the excellent exhibits at The Charleston Museum. Then, take a tour of the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon to hear stories of exiles and buried barrels of gunpowder. Learn about the Palmetto State’s moniker at Fort Moultrie’s museum and visit William Moultrie’s Gravesite. 

Tour the childhood home of Thomas Lynch Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, at Hopsewee Plantation. Then, tour Hampton Plantation State Historic Site to learn about Harriott Lucas Pinckney and George Washington’s 1791 visit. Finally, drive into Georgetown and tour the Kaminski House Museum, built by a wealthy Patriot-supporting merchant.

Learn about Francis Marion at the Marion County Museum, then take a road trip to see the Swamp Fox Murals in Manning, the Santee Indian Mound where Marion captured Fort Watson, and visit his final fight at the Eutaw Springs Battlefield.

These sites are a great start, but they aren’t all South Carolina offers.  Find more at RevWarSouthCarolina.com.