About

The Liberty Trail in South Carolina

Discover South Carolina’s Revolutionary War history along The Liberty Trail, where unspoiled battlefields and unique stories of resilience come to life nearly 250 years later.

Explore South Carolina's Revolutionary History

Many historians consider the Revolutionary War to have been decided in the swamps, fields, woods and mountains of the South, won by the resilience and determination of Continental soldiers and Patriot militia. Although the full story of the Southern Campaigns is not widely known, the events of 1775-1782 in the Carolinas and Georgia directly led to an American victory in the war.

The Liberty Trail is a unified path of preservation and interpretation across South Carolina designed to tell this remarkable story. These important battlefields, still largely unspoiled, deserve to be preserved and remembered. That’s why the American Battlefield Trust has partnered with the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust to accomplish these goals.

Each stop along the driving tour features unique on-site interpretation that connects visitors to the extraordinary events that came to pass nearly 250 years ago.

Our Valued Partners

The South Carolina Battleground Trust

The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit corporation established in 1991 and dedicated to the preservation of South Carolina’s historic battlegrounds and military sites. Working with property owners, developers, and local/state agencies, the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust has successfully preserved historic properties throughout South Carolina. The organization preserves South Carolina's military heritage employing a variety of tools from conservation easements and land acquisitions to high-tech ground-based laser scanning surveys and public interpretation with the goal of ensuring the state’s military heritage sites are not forgotten and there to study, discuss and reflect upon for future generations.

The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust has partnered with the American Battlefield Trust to lead this historic effort to protect The Liberty Trail’s battlefields and bring them to life. Learn more about them at https://www.scbattlegroundtrust.org.

Lorna Hainesworth: National Ambassador & Traveler

Lead Sponsor

The Liberty Trail would not be possible without the generosity of Lorna Hainesworth, Ambassador and National Traveler. Ms. Hainesworth has visited each and every stop on The Liberty Trail, and many places beyond. We are beyond grateful for her generosity.

Additional Thanks

The Liberty Trail would also not be possible without numerous valued partners at the federal, state and local levels.

National Park Service
South Carolina Department of Archives and History
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
South Carolina State Parks
South Carolina Association of Tourism Regions
South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission
Berkeley County Soil & Water Conservation District
Charleston County Greenbelt Program
Kershaw County
Lancaster County
Town of Heath Springs
Town of Sullivan’s Island
Department of the Navy
Audubon South Carolina
Beaufort County Open Land Trust
Charleston County Public Library
Charleston Museum
Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society
Clemson/College of Charleston Historic Preservation Program
Colleton County Historical Society
Historic Camden Foundation
Katawba Valley Land Trust
Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust
Morris Center in Ridgeland
Palmetto Conservation Foundation
Preservation South Carolina
Santee Cooper
Spartanburg County Historical Association
Sumter Guards
Washington Light Infantry

Uncover History in South Carolina

We invite you to visit the preserved locations along the Liberty Trail and to immerse yourself
in the extraordinary events that determined the fate of a nation.

A modern-day photo fo Camden Battlefield

Battlefields

Discover the historic fields, farms, and forests across South Carolina where pivotal battles were fought and the foundations of our nation were forged.

Revolutionary War reenactment showing three riders on horses

Events

Discover all South Carolina has to offer through local festivals, re-enactments and community events.

Kershaw House. Two stories of white siding levels with large porches on a brick foundation

Historic Sites

Journey through South Carolina’s rich historical sites to uncover their pivotal roles in securing America’s independence.

a man forges iron objects in front of an open fire

Living History Sites

Step back in time and experience what life was like for Colonial South Carolinians.

State Parks

Discover South Carolina’s diverse parks and forests, where both Loyalists and Patriots once ventured.

Outdoor Activities

Whether you hike, bike, boat, fish or golf, find all your favorite outdoor fun in South Carolina.

Explore South Carolina History

We invite you to visit the preserved locations along the Liberty Trail and to immerse yourself in the extraordinary events that determined the fate of a nation.

Battlefield

Breach Inlet at Sullivan's Island

Sullivan's Island, SC

Treacherous waters and Patriot fire foil a British attack on Charleston Harbor

Historic Site | Historic House

Drayton Hall

Charleston, SC

Visit Historic Drayton Hall — Tour the nation’s oldest preserved plantation house in America still open to the public. Explore Drayton Hall's 18th-century architecture, landscapes & the people who lived here.

Image of a large colonial house partially hidden by pine trees

Historic Site | Historic House

Walnut Grove Plantation

Roebuck, SC

Established in 1767 by the Patriot supporting Moore family. Local militia gathered at Walnut Grove prior to the Battle of Cowpens. Visitors may take guided tours of the house and grounds.

Battlefield

Hobkirk Hill

Camden, SC

Patriot Leader Nathanael Greene Is repulsed but not defeated in his campaign to chase the British from the South Carolina backcountry

State/County Park

Andrew Jackson State Park

Lancaster, SC

Andrew Jackson State Park combines history, art and community activities into a setting that has made it one of the state’s most popular parks.

Historic Site |

South Carolina Historical Society Museum

Charleston, SC

An architectural treasure in its own right, the South Carolina Historical Society Museum is housed in a National Historic Landmark building and features interactive exhibits on the people, places, and movements that shaped the state and nation.

Image of a split rail fence along the side of a road with a historical marker sign reading Battle of Camden

Battlefield |

Camden Battlefield

Camden, SC

The Battle of Camden was a devastating defeat suffered by the Americans in the British military offensive in the South.

Battlefield

Wyboo Swamp

Manning, SC

Now under the man-made Lake Marion, British Lieutenant Colonel John Watson and Patriot Brigadier General Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” skirmished in Wyboo Swamp near Santee Road.

Historic Site | Historic House

Hopsewee Plantation

Georgetown, SC

Built circa 1740, Hopsewee Plantation was one of the South’s major rice plantations and the birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

British re-enactors marching in front of the Kershwaw-Cornwallis house in Historic Camden

Battlefield | Historic Site

Colonial Camden

Camden, SC

A former British headquarters, explore the reconstructed Kershaw/Cornwallis House, British redoubts, and programs about colonial life.

Historic Site | Historic House

Miles-Brewton House

Charleston, SC

In 1780, after the British occupied Charleston during the American Revolutionary War, the Brewton house was used as the British headquarters for Henry Clinton.

Battlefield

Rugeley's Mill

Camden, SC

An ingenious Patriot deception provokes a prominent Loyalist to surrender his outpost