Experiences
Museum contains a reproduction 3-pounder cannon, other weapons and artifacts of the Revolutionary War period, and exhibits. "Cowpens: A Battle Remembered" is an 18-minute video shown hourly in the museum. American Battlefield Trust film on the American Revolution shown in the map room (18 minutes) Sales Outlet operated by America's National Parks offers books, postcards, and theme-related souvenirs.
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and Museum of North Carolina Minerals, located along the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail at Gillespie Gap. Featuring displays about the history and geology of western North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains, and hiking trail along the Overmountain Victory NHT. On September 29, 1780, the Overmountain Men descended the east face of the Blue Ridge Mountains through Gillespie and Hefner Gaps using separate trails before reuniting at the Catawba River.
The visitor center has a movie (25 minutes), a bookstore operated by America's National Parks, and a museum. The museum has artifacts from the battle and audio exhibits inside walk-in trees that resemble the 1780 battlefield.
Visitor Center for W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir, featuring information about the Army Corps of Engineers, the wildlife of the Yadkin River Valley, and the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. On September 28, 1780, hundreds of Patriot militia traveled down the Yadkin River on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain. Their original route is now underneath the reservoir, and hiking and biking trails along the shoreline closely follow their route.
The Keller Interpretive Center at the Abingdon Muster Ground features displays and exhibits about southwest Virginia during the American Revolution, including the 400 Virginia patriots who left this spot on September 24, 1780 to join with fellow patriots at Sycamore Shoals and begin their march to the Battle of Kings Mountain. Seasonally available information, gift store, and all-year hiking trail on the Wolf Creek Trail.
Visitor Center for Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, part of the Tennessee State Parks system. Featuring a museum and lecture hall, gift store, recreation of a 1776 log fort, and hiking trail along the Watauga River.
Programming
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! Download the program, 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 explorin 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, you can still complete this Junior Ranger booklet and learn about the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. Download and print the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Junior Ranger Program. Visit each park's website for help completing the activities. 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 in Spruce Pine, NC as we commemorate the 50th march of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association as they re-create the journey to Kings Mountain!
Spruce Pine will be hosting the "Treasurers in the Fall" Festival featuring special displays, vendors, speakers, and all things Fall!
The Overmountain Victory Trail Association and Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail will be parading at 10:30am down Locust Street to the Central Park (Pocket Park) for a special 11:00am storytelling!
Central Park is located at 165 Locust Street, Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28777
For 50 years the Overmountain Victory Trail Association (OVTA) has recreated the 1780 journey to the Battle of Kings Mountain!
Join them at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton, Tennessee for their commemorative crossing of the Watauga River!
Ranger William of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail will provide a riverside program at 1:30pm discussing the importance of the gathering and what led the Overmountain Men to this moment in their story.
At 2pm, the OVTA will re-create the gathering of frontier Patriots with a crossing of the Watauga River (weather permitting).
At 3pm, the OVTA will gather at the reconstruction of Fort Watauga onsite and perform their dramatic storytelling about the "Journey to Kings Mountain."
Do you love hiking through nature and exploring the great outdoors? Did you know that hikers helped win our nation's independence?
Come out to the Central Park in Spruce Pine, NC (the "Pocket Park") on Saturday, September 14th from 4pm to 7pm to learn all about it!
Ranger William from the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail will be talking all about how thousands of frontiersmen in the year 1780 made a 300-mile journey and fought one of our Revolution's most important battles. The route of this journey is protected today as the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, and passes through Spruce Pine!
Drop by Ranger William's pop-up station to learn about the story, examine the types of equipment these Patriots were using in the year 1780, and find out where you can experience the trail for yourself!
Join the Overmountain Victory Trail Association (OVTA) as they mark their 50th year commemorating the journey to the 1780 Battle of Kings Mountain!
On October 1, 1780, a force of apx. 1,500 Patriot frontiersmen crossed the Catawba River and began pushing south in search of British Major Patrick Ferguson. Join the OVTA and friends on October 1, 2024 as they commemorate this significant step along this journey.
At 1:00pm the OVTA will cross the Catawba River at the Greenlee Ford Access near the Catawba River Soccer Complex in Morganton, North Carolina.
This river crossing will be followed by information tables at the Old Burke County Courthouse in Morganton, North Carolina from 2pm to 5pm.
Experience History Come Alive!
Step back in time with the Overmountain Men as they recreate the evening of September 24, 1780. The Overmountain Men from the Overmountain Victory Trail Association are on their way to Kings Mountain to battle the British troops commanded by Major Patrick Ferguson. The narrative story will be performed by reenactors portraying the men who marched on the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
Event Highlights:
Music: Enjoy music in the Barn Lot starting at 6:45 PM.
Historic Narrative: At 7:00 PM, immerse yourself in the captivating story of local settlers and farmers who boldly fought to secure their independence and stop the westward expansion of the British Army.
Bring a chair for a memorable evening under the stars (weather permitting). If the weather doesn't cooperate, the event will move inside to our auditorium.
Do you love hiking through nature and exploring the great outdoors? Did you know that hikers helped win our nation's independence?
Come out to The Local Hiker at 173 E. Main Street in Spartanburg, SC on Saturday, September 12th at 6:30pm to learn all about it!
Ranger William from the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail will be talking all about how thousands of frontiersmen in the year 1780 made a 300-mile journey and fought one of our Revolution's most important battles. The route of this journey is protected today as the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, and passes through part of Spartanburg County!
Catch Ranger William as he tells about the story, examine the types of equipment these Patriots were using in the year 1780, and find out where you can experience the trail for yourself!
Grab your tricorn hat and pewter tankard and join Lake James State Park in Nebo, North Carolina as they help commemorate the 244th anniversary of the historic journey to the 1780 Battle of Kings Mountain!
On September 29, 1780, one thousand Patriot frontiersmen descended the Blue Ridge Mountains after a harrowing passage filled with rain, snow, and hunger. This army had split to follow parallel trails and were on their guard against the enemy with every bend of the trail.
The banks of the Catawba River represented to these men rest from their journey, food from the McDowell plantation, and a chance to reunite with their comrades and grow their army.
Join us for an evening at Fonta Flora Brewery - Whippoorwill Farm as we celebrate the spirit of this journey with rest, food, and camaraderie!
Those seeking adventure will find a certified portion of the Overmountain Victory Trail beginning from the edge of the Overflow Parking Lot leading 2-miles into Lake James State Park.
Staff from the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail will be present with tricorn hats for those who forgot to bring their own!
Join the Damascus Trail Center for a celebration of the history and culture of the Overmountain Victory Trail and Southwest Virginia!
Damascus Trail Center
209 West Laurel Ave., Damascus, Virginia 24236
9am the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club will host a guided hike on a portion of the Appalachian Trail located near Damascus, Virginia.
12pm, the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail will lead a conversation at the Damascus Trail Center about the connections of the trail, Southwest Virginia, and the American Revolution.
12pm-4pm, the Damascus Trail Center will host info tables from some of the great organizations that help make the region special:
- The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
- The Crooked Road Virginia's Music Heritage Trail
- United States Forest Service
- Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club
Come join the Historic Burke Foundation for an Open House Day celebrating the Charles McDowell House at Quaker Meadows!
This historic property in Morganton, North Carolina played a large role in the story of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail and provided much-needed food and rest to the thousands of Patriots who descended from the Blue Ridge Mountains and Yadkin River Valley.
This event will feature displays and info tables from various organizations in the region.
For more details, contact the Historic Burke Foundation at historicburke@gmail.com.
Grab your tricorn hats and get ready to send our boys off right with music and revelry!
On September 21, 1780, Patriots from across southwest Virginia gathered to begin a journey knowing that some of them would never return. These Virginians led by William Campbell were about to pursue Loyalists (British supporters) being organized into an army that threatened the future of their homes and their new young nation. Supplies were packed, horses rested, and goodbyes said to loved ones.
Join us on the 244th anniversary of these preparations for "The Parting Shots" as we recreate the night before their grand departure.
Attendees who make reservations will be able to join our 1-mile commemorative "march" through town to this location (more details provided once reservation confirmed).
Historic Clothing will be available for marchers to help get into the spirit of the night!
Contact ovvi_information@nps.gov to sign up! The walk is limited to 25 attendees.
Our final destination is Sweet Bay Brewing at 149 Deadmore St. SE where we will join the spirit of those 1780 Patriots with music from Appalachian Highland Thunder and toasts to the coming journey before dismissing at 7pm.
Those not wanting to walk are welcome to meet and receive the marchers at Sweet Bay Brewing at 6:30pm.
Marchers are welcome to dismiss and return to their vehicles or linger and enjoy the hospitality of our host.
Experiences
Event Programming
