North Carolina played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence, from the decisive Patriot victory at Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge to the hard-fought clash at Battle of Guilford Courthouse that weakened British resolve in the South. Its patriots, challenging terrain, and determined spirit helped turn the tide of the war and hasten the road to American independence.
8884 St. Phillips Rd SE
Winnabow, NC 28479
The site of a former colonial port that thrived throughout the mid-18th century, most of the town was reportedly burned down by the British in 1776
5803 NC-62
Burlington, NC 27215
The Battle of Alamance site marks the 1771 clash between royal militia and Regulator rebels, often called the last battle of the colonial period. Visitors can explore monuments and exhibits interpreting this early struggle over authority in the Carolina backcountry.
224 Market Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Home to a Loyalist sympathizer, the Burgwin-Wright House stands as one of the oldest structures in Wilmington. In 1781, the likes of Cornwallis and his officers inhabited the home for a brief period.
117 E King St, Edenton, NC 27932
Edenton, NC 27932
Built in 1767, the Chowan County Courthouse is one of the oldest operating courthouses in the country and still serves the North Carolina Supreme Court to this day.
13525 NC-73
Huntersville, NC 28078
In an attempt to stall Cornwallis force, a contingent of Patriots initiated a delaying action which led to the death of General William Davidson
1792 Fort Defiance Dr
Lenoir, NC 28645
Built in 1792 by Revolutionary War officer William Lenoir, Fort Defiance preserves the homestead that rose near the site of an earlier frontier fort and reflects the legacy of one family for nearly two centuries.
370 West Pittsylvania Street
Halifax, NC 27839
In April 1777, Lafayette sailed on the Victoire, a ship built with his personal funds, for North America to serve as a military leader in the American Revolution, despite a royal decree prohibiting French officers from serving. Shortly after his arrival, the Continental Congress commissioned him as a major general serving under George Washington. In June of 1777, the 19-year-old Lafayette landed on American soil near Georgetown, South Carolina. He then made his way north towards Philadelphia.
On July 18th, 1777, Major J. B. Ashe sent a letter reporting to the North Carolina Governor, Richard Caswell, on the state of affairs at Halifax, where a military camp had been established. He included in his letter that “one of the Royal Bloods of France, (the Marquis de Lafayette) recommended by Mr. Franklin, passed this a few days since, on his way to the Grand Army.” It is estimated that Lafayette passed through Halifax a few days preceding the 18th.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.
2356 US-17
South Mills, NC 27976
Located just south of the Chesapeake Bay, this "uninhabitable" Great Dismal Swamp was home to thousands of Native Americans and Maroons--self-emancipated slaves--throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
2332 New Garden Road
Greensboro, NC 27410
One of the final battles of the Southern Campaign, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse cemented the British path to final defeat at the Battle of Yorktown.
100 Harding Street
Bath, NC 27808
North Carolina's first official town and port of entry, Bath served as an early hub of trade and development during the Colonial period.
2147 Bethabara Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27106
Once a thriving commercial hub, Bethabara was home to a Moravian settlement in Winston-Salem that witnessed the French and Indian War, the Regulator War, and the American Revolution.
25 St David St
Halifax, NC 27839
Explore colonial Halifax at a preserved Revolutionary-era town where historic homes, public spaces, and hands-on exhibits reveal how North Carolinians lived, worked, and governed in the 1700s. From influential leaders’ residences to springs, markets, and river landings, the site brings everyday life in a pivotal American community into sharp focus.
288 Alston House Road
Sanford, NC 27330
Also known as the Alston House, the House in the Horseshoe served as a Patriot outpost where a four hour skirmish took place on July 29, 1781.
40 Patriots Hall Drive
Currie, NC 28435
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
Old Trail Road
Burlington, NC 27215
Patriot forces under Andrew Pickens and "Light Horse Harry" successfully rout British forces in Alamance County following Cornwallis' failed attempt to catch Nathanael Greene during the "Race to the Dan"
402 Jeb Seagle Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28082
Located an hour away from Charlotte, the Ramsour's Mill battleground marks the site of the first Patriot victory in the south following the fall of Charleston.
529 S Front Street
New Bern, NC 28562
Originally destroyed by a fire in 1798, this faithful reconstruction stands on the former site of the Palace and offers an 18th century interpretive experience.
Explore the many guided tours of The Liberty Trail
Son of prominent leader John Baptista Ashe, John Ashe emerged as a leading Patriot in North Carolina, turning from crown loyalist to Revolutionary commander after colonial unrest and rising to brigadier general by 1776. Though defeated at Brier Creek and later captured when British forces overran Wilmington, Ashe died a prisoner of war in 1781 after contracting smallpox.
A career soldier loyal to the Crown, Donald MacDonald fought at Culloden before crossing the Atlantic to rally Scottish Highlanders for Britain during the American Revolution. His effort was cut short when he was captured after the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge and held by Patriot forces for more than a year.
One of Virginia's most capable officers of the American Revolution, Edward Carrington was also a confidant of George Washington and statesman in the early days of the Republic.
Soon after Greene took command of the southern theater, the tide of war began to turn in favor of the Patriots. Greene and his men turned south to reconquer the South Carolina backcountry. Throughout 1781, Greene steadily drove the British back to Charleston, which they abandoned the following December.
