Adopted on April 12, 1776, the Halifax Resolves marked the first official call for independence from Great Britain by any American colony, earning the state the moniker First in Freedom.
On April 12, 1776, the Fourth Provincial Congress of North Carolina unanimously approved a resolution, allowing the state’s delegates to the Second Continental Congress to vote for independence from...
When Major General Nathanael Greene arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 2, 1780, as the new Continental Army Southern Department commander, he was taking over a theater that had seen few...
What did Captain John Paul Jones, General Hugh Mercer and Declaration signers James Wilson and John Witherspoon have in common? If your answer included “a dedication to the Patriot cause” or “Scotsmen...
The textile business isn’t the only thing that runs in Derick Close’s family, as his ancestry is buzzing with individuals whose presence in Revolutionary North Carolina molded the Tar Heel State.
Introducing a bold new tour on The Liberty Trail--Henry Knox's Noble Train of Artillery!
Uncovering 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.
When Jane Black Thomas overheard Loyalists plotting a surprise attack on her son's militia camp, she rode nearly 60 miles through dangerous territory to warn him. Her daring ride gave Colonel John Thomas Jr. and his Spartan Regiment time to prepare an ambush that repelled the attackers — fueling Patriot momentum toward the war-changing Battle of King's Mountain just three months later.
In September 1780, Loyalist Colonel Tye captured Patriot captain Joshua Huddy after a fierce struggle. A Patriot ambush capsized their boat, allowing Huddy to escape while Tye suffered a wound that would prove fatal.
The site of the first known Colonist offensive attack during the Revolution, Meriam's Corner marks where the British column, retreating to Boston, was ambushed by local militias.
Completed in 1713, The Powder Magazine is South Carolina's oldest government building.
This home, now known as the "John Quincy Adams Birthplace," was John and Abigail Adams' residence during the Revolutionary War. While John served as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Abigail managed this home and served as an advisor to her husband in his public role.
Liberty Hall was home to trailblazing governors, congressmen, senators, assembly persons, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs. Inhabited by William Livingston, New Jersey’s first elected governor and a signer of the United States Constitution, the 14-room Georgian-style home evolved over time into a 50-room Victorian mansion.
Now the site of one of the last Scottish broadsword charges in history, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots faced off against well-trained Highlanders in the first significant victory for the Patriots in the Revolution
With a rotating collection of artifacts and interactive exhibits, the Cherokee County Museum has something for all ages and interests.
A station constructed during high tensions with the Cherokee, this fortification was utilized by Loyalists until July of 1780.
The site of the 1775 Battle of Williamson's Fort and a critical outpost for the British after they captured Charleston in 1780, the colonial town of Ninety Six was also the setting of a 28-day siege in 1781. Here, Nathanael Greene’s Patriots attacked the heart of Loyalist commander John Cruger’s defenses — the Star Fort.
The home to Founding Father George Mason, this mansion is slightly atypical of Georgian architecture due to its unique interior design that blends styles from across Europe and Asia.