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 |
| Established | August 10, 1933 |
| 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 in South Carolina. It's a National Military Park near Blacksburg. This park remembers the important Battle of Kings Mountain. This battle was a big win for the American Patriots. They fought against the Loyalists during the American Revolutionary War. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Thomas Jefferson, a famous American leader, once said this battle was "The turn of the tide of success."
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Why Kings Mountain is Important
The Battle of Kings Mountain happened on October 7, 1780. This battle was a major turning point in the war. It greatly weakened the British army in the southern states. The victory stopped the British from moving further into North Carolina. It also made Lord Cornwallis, a British general, retreat. This gave Nathanael Greene, an American general, time to get his army ready.
The Battle of Kings Mountain Story
Before 1780, most of the Revolutionary War was fought in the northern parts of America. After some problems in the north, British General Clinton looked south. He thought British troops could easily win there with help from Loyalists. The British first captured Charleston. After this win, Clinton sent troops everywhere to stop any resistance. He put Cornwallis in charge of the southern war effort. Clinton wanted to conquer South Carolina, then North Carolina, and finally Virginia.
After the British took Charleston, Colonel Abraham Buford was leading 400 American soldiers. They were heading back to Virginia. In May, British troops led by Colonel Tarleton attacked them. This was called the Battle of Waxhaws. Buford tried to surrender, but his request was ignored. Tarleton's troops killed many of Buford's men. This event made many people in the Carolinas want to fight back even more.
The situation for the Americans in the south was very tough. Many thought they might lose Georgia and the Carolinas. There were not many organized American forces left. But enough people felt patriotic to form a small group of fighters. These men marched through difficult conditions to defend the Kings Mountain area. They were called the Overmountain Men. They marched for days, even through heavy rains. On September 30, more men joined them, making their force about 1,400 strong. After about an hour of fighting, the Patriots won the battle. They captured nearly 700 British soldiers.
Creating the Park
Kings Mountain National Military Park was officially created on March 3, 1931. It was made to remember 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 to the battle.
The park is next to Kings Mountain State Park. The state park offers camping and a "living history" farm. Kings Mountain National Military Park is about 30 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina. It's also about 60 miles north of Greenville, South Carolina.
Exploring the Historic Trail
There is a paved trail that is one and a half miles long. It starts at the visitor center and goes around the base of the mountain. It then climbs to the top where the Loyalists were. Along the trail, you can see several monuments. The oldest one is from 1815. You can also see Patrick Ferguson's grave. The trail helps you understand the battleground. Some parts of the trail are a bit steep. The National Park Service is working to make the trail easier for everyone to use.
On the 150th anniversary of the battle, Herbert Hoover, who was president then, gave a speech. He spoke about the battle and the monument. He called it "a place of inspiring memories." A year after his speech, a monument was put up by the Daughters of the American Revolution. It marks the spot where President Hoover spoke to a large crowd. This monument is also a stop on the historic trail.
Mountain Peaks in the Area
- Brown's Mountain - located in Cherokee County
- Joes Mountain - located in York County
See also
