Kings Mountain National Military Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kings Mountain National Military Park |
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Kings Mountain Monument
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 Kings Mountain National Military Park
Location in South Carolina
Kings Mountain National Military Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | York / Cherokee counties, South Carolina |
| Nearest city | Blacksburg, South Carolina |
| Area | 3,945 acres (15.96 km²) |
| Established | March 3, 1931 |
| Visitors | 268,394 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Kings Mountain National Military Park |
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Kings Mountain Monument
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| Built | 1780 |
| Architect | Mckim, Mead & White; Howser, Henry (NPS) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000079 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Kings Mountain National Military Park is a special place near Blacksburg, South Carolina. It sits right on the border between North Carolina and South Carolina. This park remembers a very important battle from the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Kings Mountain was a big victory for the American Patriots against the Loyalists. This battle helped turn the tide of the war in the southern states. Thomas Jefferson once said this victory was "The turn of the tide of success."
The Battle of Kings Mountain
The Battle of Kings Mountain happened on October 7, 1780. It was a major moment in the Southern Campaign of the war. This battle greatly weakened the army of Lord Cornwallis. It stopped the British from moving further into North Carolina. Cornwallis had to retreat back into South Carolina. This gave the American Army a chance to get stronger.
Before 1780, most of the Revolutionary War was fought in the northern states. After some struggles there, British General Clinton decided to focus on the southern states. He thought he would find many Loyalists there who would help his troops.
The British campaign in the south began by capturing Charleston, South Carolina. After this victory, General Clinton sent his troops in many directions. He wanted to stop any resistance. He put Lord Cornwallis in charge of the Southern Campaign. Clinton then went back to New York. His orders for Cornwallis were to finish taking over South Carolina. Then, Cornwallis was to move north into North Carolina and later Virginia.
After the defeat at Charleston, Colonel Abraham Buford and his 400 soldiers were heading back to Virginia. In May, their troops were attacked by Colonel Tarleton's forces. This fight became known as the Battle of Waxhaws. Buford tried to surrender, but his requests were ignored. Tarleton's troops killed many of Buford's men. This harsh event helped inspire many people in the Carolinas to fight back.
The situation in the southern states was becoming very difficult for the Americans. Many thought about giving up Georgia and the Carolinas. There were very few organized American forces left. But enough people felt patriotic to gather a small group of men. They decided to defend the Kings Mountain area. These men were called the Overmountain Men. They marched for many days, even through deep snow.
They continued to train and march. They learned that the British might be closer than they thought. So, they changed their route. They divided their troops at Gillespie's Gap to avoid an ambush. Later, more men joined them from Wilkes County and Surry County, North Carolina. This brought their total force to about 1,400 men. They continued marching, even through heavy rains. After about an hour of fighting, the Patriot forces won. They captured nearly 700 British soldiers.
Establishing the Park
Kings Mountain National Military Park was created on March 3, 1931. This was done by a special law passed by Congress. The park was made "in order to commemorate the Battle of Kings Mountain."
The park is also the end point of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. This trail follows the path the Patriot army took. They marched from over the Appalachian Mountains to the battle site.
The park is next to Kings Mountain State Park. The state park offers places for camping and picnics. It also has a "living history" farm. Kings Mountain National Military Park is about 30 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina. It is also about 60 miles north of Greenville, South Carolina. You can often see Kings Mountain from Interstate 85 as you drive north.
Walking the Historic Trail
There is a one-and-a-half-mile paved trail at the park. It starts at the visitor center. The trail goes around the base of the mountain. It follows the lines where the Patriot soldiers stood. Then, it goes up to the top where the Loyalists were positioned.
Along the trail, you will see several monuments. Some are large, and some are small. The oldest one dates back to 1815. You can also see the grave of Patrick Ferguson, a British officer. The trail helps you understand what the battleground was like. Some parts of the trail are a bit steep. The park plans to make these steeper parts easier to walk. This will make the trail accessible for everyone.
On the 150th anniversary of the battle, Herbert Hoover was the President of the United States. He gave a speech at the park. He called it "a place of inspiring memories." In his speech, he talked about the history of America. He spoke about the rise of American men and women. You can read his full speech here.
A year after President Hoover's speech, a monument was put up. The Daughters of the American Revolution placed it. It simply says: "ON THIS SITE / PRESIDENT HOOVER / ADDRESSED AN AUDIENCE OF 75,000 / AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE / SESQUI CENTENNIAL / OF THE BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN." It also includes the date of his speech. This monument is located roughly where Hoover stood. It is another stop along the historic loop trail.
