Kings Mountain National Military Park

The Junior Ranger Program for Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail encourages you to get out and explore!

This trail was the primary route used during the American Revolution by patriots from across the frontier to reach the key patriot victory of the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780. The trail today consists of a 330-mile Commemorative Motor Route, an extensive network of disconnected hiking trails, and great site partners throughout Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. 

Use this free Junior Ranger book while visiting one of the partner sites, walking along one of the trails, or driving along the motor route. 

Once completed, there are three ways to submit the book for the badge!

1. Submit the book at one of our participating site partners.

2. Mail the book to our headquarters at 338 New Pleasant Road, Gaffney, SC 29341.

3. Email us scans or images of the completed book at ovvi_information@nps.gov.


While exploring the trail at our partner sites, don't forget to ask if they also have a Junior Ranger or similar program that you can complete for additional prizes!

The Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Junior Ranger Program features five units of the National Park Service! You can receive a Jr. Ranger book at either of the five sites or print the book from home or contact the park to have them mail you a copy. You can then complete the actvitities, and earn a Junior Ranger badge! Learn more about units related to the American Revolution.

Complete the Booklet by Visiting the Parks

You may complete this booklet by exploring the five sites in person. Before you visit make sure you know when each site is open. Once you have completed the booklet show it to one of the rangers at any of the parks to recieve your badge! 

Complete the Booklet at Home

Even if you can't visit all five sites or if you do not have time to complete the booklet during your visit, you can still complete this Junior Ranger booklet at home. Once you have completed the booklet you may email it or send it by mail to one of the five sites. A ranger from that site will mail you you Southern Campaign Junior Ranger badge!

Join us as we celebrate Independence Day 2025! This program will feature a ranger led reading of the Declaration of Independence and a short talk about some of the 56 signers. Visitors will then be able to sign their own copy of the Declaration of Independence that they can take home with them. Throughout the day, there will also be musket firing demonstrations.

Join us for a Revolutionary War militia muster in the Carolina backcountry. During the war local militias held regular musters to ensure that everyone was trained and equipped in case they were required to go out and fight to defend their communities. Visitors will be able to experience drilling with simulated wooden muskets, attend a musket and rifle firing demonstration, make their own simulated musket cartridges and musket balls to take home, attend a ranger led campfire talk about the militia, and interact with rangers and volunteers in period clothes portraying Revolutionary War militiamen in the Carolina backcountry.

Join us this weekend as we mark both Veterans Day and Remembrance Day. Both holidays fall on November 11, but with a different focus. In the United States of America, we celebrate Veterans Day during which we honor our veterans. In Britain, Remembrance Day is a time to remember those members of the armed forces who gave their lives in defense of their country. Since the only known and marked grave site at Kings Mountain National Military Park, is that of Major Patrick Ferguson we will be observing both. Activities will include battlefield tours focusing on veterans of the battle, an exhibit where you can learn about Remembrance, and a Remembrance Day poppy activity.

Tours 11AM and 1:30PM

Join us for a chance to tour one of the most unique structures in Kings Mountain National Military Park. The Howser House was built in 1803 and was constructed out of cut stone making it unique in this area for the period. Visitors will be able to take both self-guided and guided tours the house, view and participate in period craft demonstrations, try out period craft demonstrations, and learn about rural farm life in the piedmont during the early 19th century.

Join us as we commemorate the 245th anniversary of the battle of Kings Mountain. On this day the park will fully open for the morning, to commemorate the anniversary of the battle. This program will feature a wreath laying ceremony and remarks from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Sons of the American Revolution. Other speakers and activities will be announced at a later date.

Join us this weekend as we mark the 109th birthday of the National Park Service! Visitors will be able to attend a ranger program on the history of the National Park Service and development of Kings Mountain National Military Park, enjoy a variety of children’s games and activities, become a Jr. Ranger, or attend a special ranger led tour focusing on the history and development of the park.

Tours 11AM & 1:30PM

Join us as we get ready to commemorate the 245th anniversary of the battle of Kings Mountain. This commemorative weekend event will feature ranger led guided tours of the battlefield and talks on the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution, 18th century musket and rifle firing demonstrations, children’s crafts and activities, reenactors in period kit, a history row consisting of booths from nearby historical sites, author book signing and a keynote speaker to be announced at a late date, and of course an evening lantern tour of the battlefield. Further information will be posted at a later date.

Tours 7:00PM-8:00PM