Our Founding Tables Upstate | Thursday, Nov. 5th
Food has always been a reflection of place, culture, history and the people who call South Carolina home. The commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to explore the foundational ideals of our nation and, for those of us in South Carolina, the important role our state and its people played in the history of the American Revolution.
In partnership with the Southern Fork and writer, editor, audio producer Stephanie Burt, Our Founding Tables invites chefs, scholars, and guests to explore the history and legacy of the Revolutionary War era through the food and culture of South Carolina. The series will bring together engaging voices to explore stories of the past and consider their connections to our lives today.
Join us as we launch this series by taking a closer look at the history and legacy of women in South Carolina’s Upstate – as homefront leaders, healers, caretakers, and fierce protectors – during the American Revolution and beyond.
Free activities from 2 – 4 p.m. will offer guests an opportunity to meet scholars and educators of the American Revolution in South Carolina, talk with SCSM curators about the Museum’s exhibition, American Battleground: South Carolina’s Revolution, and view the traveling exhibition, A Blueprint to Liberty, a collaborative project by the South Carolina State Museum and the South Carolina Historical Society.
Later that evening, the ticketed portion of Our Founding Tables will begin at 6 p.m. with host Stephanie Burt, moderating a discussion panel featuring:
- Laura Cothran, SCSM Curator of History
- Beth Melton, a Rock Hill-based artist and educator whose work focuses on textiles and weaving
- Miranda Panther, NAGPRA officer for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Historic Preservation Office
- Heather Smitherman, domestic skills education coordinator at Old Salem Museums & Garden
Afterwards, guests can enjoy a family-style dinner prepared by Greenville native Chef Stephanie Bolden featuring local ingredients from the region.
Our Founding Tables was made possible through a grant from the South Carolina 250th Commission with additional support from Certified SC Grown.
