Guilford Courthouse National Military Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park Location in North Carolina Show map of North Carolina Guilford Courthouse National Military Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
Nearest city	Greensboro, NC
Area	220.25 acres (89.13 ha)
Established	March 2, 1917
Visitors	277,484 (in 2004)
Governing body	National Park Service
Website	Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Nearest city	Greensboro, North Carolina
Architect	National Park Service; Bureau of Public Roads
Architectural style	Colonial Revival
NRHP reference No.	66000069
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHLD	January 3, 2001

The Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is a special place in Greensboro, North Carolina. It remembers the important Battle of Guilford Court House. This battle happened on March 15, 1781. It was a key moment in the American Revolutionary War. The American victory here helped lead to the British surrender at Yorktown just seven months later. This park helps us learn about this historic event. The National Park Service (NPS) takes care of the battlefield.

Protecting the Battlefield

A local person named David Schenck started protecting this land in 1886. He wanted to create a park to remember the battle. The next year, he started a group called the Guilford Battle Ground Company (GBGC). This group worked to buy land for the park. Mr. Schenck always planned to give this land to the government.

This monument honors soldiers from Maryland who fought bravely at Guilford Court House.

In 1917, the United States Congress made Guilford Courthouse a national military park. The GBGC then gave about 125 acres of land to the government for free. Without David Schenck's hard work, this park might not exist today.

However, the GBGC's early work had some challenges. David Schenck made the land look nice, but he didn't keep it exactly as it was during the battle. Also, many monuments were put up by historical groups. These monuments were well-meaning, but they were not always in the correct historical spots. They were often placed where it was easy to build them.

This old map from 1998 shows how people used to think the battle happened.

Mr. Schenck also thought the battle covered a smaller area than it actually did. This was partly because he had limited money. Landowners also asked for a lot of money for their land. This incorrect idea led researchers to place markers in the wrong spots. It also made it hard for the government to buy more land. The city of Greensboro grew around the park, changing some of the battlefield areas.

This newer map shows a much larger battlefield area, based on new research.

Today, the National Park Service has learned more about the battle. They use new research to understand exactly where events happened. They want to make sure the battlefield and its monuments are in the right places. A new Guilford Battleground Company helps protect the park. They also support the Colonial Heritage Center, where British soldiers gathered before the battle.

The park is connected to Greensboro Country Park by a bike path. Many local people use both parks for jogging and cycling.

This monument honors William Hooper, who signed the Declaration of Independence.

This statue honors Nathanael Greene, a key American general in the battle.

Park History

The Guilford Courthouse National Military Park was officially created on March 2, 1917. It was first managed by the War Department. Then, on August 10, 1933, it was moved to the National Park Service.

In 1966, the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important historical sites. The park's information was updated in 1996. In 2001, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical place for the whole country.