South Carolina's 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution

Zachary Lemhouse, Historian/Violinist, “Songs of the American Revolution: A Historical Presentation & Performance” ("A Glorious Cause" series)
2026-03-12 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | 120 York St. NE, 29803, United States
*Part of “A Glorious Cause: South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Public History Initiative by the Georgetown County Library,” historian Zachary Lemhouse will explain significance of popular Revolutionary songs while also plucking out several tunes for attendees with his trusty bow and fiddle, so be ready to clap your hands and stomp your feet to the music as you learn!
The project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the South Carolina State Library (SCSL).

Textiles of the Revolution Gallery Talk with Curator of Historic Textiles Virginia Theerman
2026-03-12 15:30 - 16:30
Join Curator of Historic Textiles Virginia Theerman in the Historic Textiles Gallery on March 12, 2026 for a special gallery talk. While discussing textiles and Museum collection pieces from the Revolutionary War era, Theerman will also tell the stories behind garments now view in the Historic Textiles Gallery as a part of current exhibition, Ringleaders of Rebellion: Charleston in Revolt 1775-1783.
Gallery Talks provide visitors with an overview of a specified topic related to the Museum’s extraordinary and diverse collections, provided by the Museum’s curatorial staff.
Reservations preferred. This program is FREE for Members and FREE with Museum admission.
Register online or call 843-722-2996 ext. 235.

259th Birthday of President Andrew Jackson
2026-03-14 10:00 - 16:00
Andrew Jackson State Park will host a special event on Saturday, March 14, 2026, to celebrate the 259th birthday of the seventh President of the United States. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers visitors a chance to experience life in the Carolina Backcountry as it was during Jackson’s youth.
Attendees can enjoy living history demonstrations, where traditional crafters will showcase skills from the 18th century. Historians will also be present to discuss Andrew Jackson’s life, his presidency, and the impact of his decisions on American history. America 250 activities for children will be available.
The event is part of the 250th Revolutionary War Anniversary series, recognizing South Carolina’s important role in the war for independence. Visitors will have the opportunity to see reenactors bring history to life and gain insight into the challenges faced by those living in the region during Jackson’s time.

Genealogy Workshop: Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestors
2026-03-14 10:00 - 16:30
Genealogy Workshop: Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestors
Saturday, March 14, 2025, 10:00 – 4:30
Headquarters Library — Barrett Room
Registration required.
As the nation begins to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we also reflect on the individuals who contributed to the cause.  Join us as staff genealogists from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the National Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) explore how to go about researching your Revolutionary War ancestor.  Learn about what qualifies as service (spoiler: it’s not just military service), how to go about finding these records, and what genealogical standards are expected when applying to these lineage societies.
Visit our event calendar to see a detailed list of sessions and to register!

Colonial Indigo Dyeing in the Stableyards
2026-03-14 12:00 - 14:00
In this drop-in style program, we will discuss the indigo plant, the labor it took to grow, harvest, and process it, as well as the importance of indigo and what it was used for. Guests will dye a square of fabric to take home with them.
Free with General Admission.

Revolutionary Days 2026
2026-03-16 09:00 - 2026-03-22 17:00
The Allendale County 250 Committee is thrilled to announce the return of Revolutionary Days — a week-long celebration of South Carolina’s Revolutionary War history.
The centerpiece of this year’s event is the powerful traveling exhibit from the South Carolina State Museum: Resilience & Revolution: Native Peoples in 18th Century South Carolina
This thought-provoking exhibit highlights the resilience, resistance, and rich cultural legacy of Native communities during a transformative period in our state’s history.
Throughout the week, visitors can also expect:
• Live reenactments
• Dynamic speakers and storytellers
• Educational programs for all ages
• Special community events and gatherings
Thanks to the continued generosity of USC Salkehatchie, all events will take place in the Atrium.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for the full schedule — coming soon!

Actors Theater of SC
2026-03-16 18:00 - 19:30
Actors Theater of SC at Nexton Del Webb of SC’s Live Performance of Rebecca Brewton Mott picking up where Emily Geiger’s Wild Ride and Rebecca’s Revolution left off. Residents only.

South Carolina's Irish Patriots of the American Revolution
2026-03-17 12:00 - 13:30
Tom Elmore is celebrating this St. Patrick’s Day by honoring the Irish-Americans who fought during the American Revolution.
Eleven percent of the veterans who applied for pensions after the war were Irish. Twenty-nine Irish men represented SC throughout the Continental Congresses. Two signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were Irish. Bring your lunch and wear some Irish pride to take a deep dive into our Irish forefathers of the American Revolution, where everyone’s a little Irish for the day.
(You bring your lunch, and we will provide the learning opportunity!)

Revolutionary Reads: Rough Crossings
2026-03-17 18:00 - 19:00
Join us in celebrating America’s 250th Birthday attending Revolutionary Reads!
March’s selection is “Rough Crossings” by Simon Schama.
We will meet at Oconee History Museum to discuss the book and to talk about the history relating to the American Revolution. Readers are responsible for acquiring their own books.
It will truly be a revolutionary time!
If you were black in America at the start of the Revolutionary War, whom would you want to win? In response to a declaration by the last governor of Virginia that any rebel-owned slave who escaped and served the King would be emancipated, tens of thousands of blacks voted with feet, escaping to fight beside the British. Originally designed to break the plantations of the American South, this military strategy instead unleashed one of the great exoduses in American history.
Told in the voices of the slaves and the white abolitionists who aided them, Simon Schama vividly details the odyssey of these escaped blacks, shedding light on an extraordinary chapter in America’s birth. –amazon.com

Myths and stories
2026-03-17 19:00 - 20:00
Jeff Neale’s Declaration of Independence

Burned Churches in the American Revolution
2026-03-17 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for an engaging evening of history as Bill Segars explores how churches became targets during the American Revolution—and why their destruction mattered far beyond the battlefield.
These churches were more than places of worship. They were centers of Patriot activity, community gathering spaces, and symbols of shared identity. Their burning was meant to intimidate and divide, and their stories reveal a powerful side of the civilian experience during the war.

Sara A. Rich, Maritime Archaeologist/Rhode Island School of Design, “A Revolutionary War Shipwreck in the Cooper River” ("A Glorious Cause" series)
2026-03-18 10:00 - 11:30
*Part of “A Glorious Cause: South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Public History Initiative by the Georgetown County Library,” Dr. Sara A. Rich, a prolific author and maritime archaeologist at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), will delve into the remains of a Revolutionary War shipwreck buried for centuries beneath the murky waters of the SC Lowcountry’s Cooper River. What secret histories can the shipwreck whisper to us from the deep? Dr. Rich’s presentation will be delivered in partnership with the South Carolina Maritime Museum.
The project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the South Carolina State Library (SCSL).

Lunchbox Learning: Greenville Symphony Composes Story of “Dicey Langston”
2026-03-18 12:00 - 13:00
History meets music at this Lunchbox Learning talk spotlighting the Greenville Symphony’s new composition inspired by Revolutionary War heroine Dicey Langston. Go inside the creative process: how commissions begin, how a composer develops themes and structure, and how musicians, historians, and community partners help bring a brand-new work to life. The program also revisits Dicey’s remarkable story and why it resonates today. Presentation runs 45–50 minutes with time for audience questions.
Upcountry Museum
540 Buncombe St.
Greenville, 29601

Under the Crown
2026-03-21 10:00 - 2026-03-22 17:00
It is 1780 and the colonies are in rebellion. Charleston is under siege and may have already fallen. The rebel forces were defeated at Savannah last year in 1779. Things are not going well for the American cause but the rebels are not done yet!
This event focuses on the time when the British were in control of the colonies. Historical reenactors will provide a glimpse into the American Revolution and daily life during the British occupation. There will be numerous demonstrations including pottery-making, weaving, spinning, candle making, butter churning, musket firing, gunsmithing, blacksmithing, needlework, woodworking, beehive oven baking and smoking/curing meat. Visitors can play colonial games, sing songs, and sample baked goods at the Sweet Shoppe! You can try your hand at colonial dancing or see if you are fit to join the militia! Be sure to visit with the traders, backwoodsmen, milliner, tavern keeper, and the sutlers. Find period-authentic wares at the Village Mercantile and see the lathe that was used in the movie The Patriot in the New Windsor cabinet shop.
We are always adding new experiences to our program. No two events are the same.
Several special guests from the colonial era will be there with our village regulars. The ever popular, rat catcher, will be roaming the park. Be sure to watch one of the mesmerizing performances by Peter Gardiner, the 18th Century Conjurer. Check the event brochure to see what special guests will be there.
The Living History Park of North Augusta, SC:
299 Spring Grove Ave.
North Augusta, SC 29841

“Liberty and Legacy: The Marion Papers”
2026-03-22 15:00 - 16:30
Rick Wise, Executive Director and CEO of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, will be discussing his work in editing the Marion Papers and the impact on our understanding of the American Revolution and Marion himself.

Voices of the Revolution Speaker Series: The Battle of Dunlap's Defeat
2026-03-23 18:00 - 20:00
The Abbeville County Chamber is excited to host a speaker series in 2026 in recognition of the 250th. The series will focus on Abbeville County's role in the Revolutionary War, highlighting the people, places, and perspectives that shaped the conflict in this backcountry district. On March 23rd, the anniversary of the Battle of Dunlap's Defeat, historian and battlefield preservationist Durant Ashmore will share the story of this Abbeville County battle and its recent rediscovery.

Equine Themed Music
2026-03-23 18:30 - 19:30
Music by the AAA Home School Band and the South Aiken Baptist Christian School Band will feature music that emphasizes the importance of horses in the development and history of Aiken. The band will be performing pieces like “Hoofbeat”, “Stallion”, “Classic 60’s Westerns”, “All the Pretty Little Horses Lullaby” and “Horse and Buggy Ride”

Christopher Judge, Native American Studies Center/USC Lancaster, “Native Life in Revolutionary South Carolina” ("A Glorious Cause" series)
2026-03-25 10:00 - 11:30
*Part of “A Glorious Cause: South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Public History Initiative by the Georgetown County Library,” archaeologist Christopher Judge, who serves as Associate Director for USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Center, will share his wealth of expertise on what Native American life and culture looked like in South Carolina during the Revolution. Judge’s presentation will dovetail with a free public exhibit that will be on display at the Georgetown Library during April and May 2026, “Resistance and Resilience: Native Peoples in 18th Century South Carolina.”
The project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the South Carolina State Library (SCSL).

Backcountry Resistance: South Carolina’s Militia and the Fight for Independence Lecture and Book Signing with Director Carl Borick
2026-03-25 18:00 - 19:00
In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our nation, The Charleston Museum is pleased to host a series of lectures, each focusing on a different aspect of Revolutionary War history.
On March 25th at 6:00 pm, The Charleston Museum invites the community to the official launch of Director Carl Borick’s newest book, Backcountry Resistance: South Carolina’s Militia and the Fight for Independence.
Focusing on rank-and-file militiamen, Borick explores how these ordinary men were recruited, armed, fed, and motivated. Drawing on underused pension records and state claims, he reconstructs their everyday realities and their battlefield experiences. He also examines the war’s devastating effects on civilians, including enslaved people and women, who played crucial roles in the struggle.
Richly detailed and grounded in the human experience of warfare, Backcountry Resistance offers the most comprehensive portrait to date of South Carolina’s militia during the decisive years of the War for American Independence.
The evening will begin in the Museum’s Arthur M. Wilcox Auditorium with a presentation, followed by a brief Q&A segment. Afterward, a light reception will be held in the main lobby, where guests may have copies of Backcountry Resistance: South Carolina’s Militia and the Fight for Independence signed by the author. Books will be available for purchase.
This special event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is recommended. Register online or call 843-722-2996 ext. 235.
About the Author:
Carl P. Borick is the Director of The Charleston Museum and a leading historian of the Revolutionary War in South Carolina. He is the author of The Charleston Museum: America’s First Museum, A Gallant Defense: The Siege of Charleston, 1780 and Relieve Us of This Burthen: American Prisoners of War in the Revolutionary South, 1780-1782.

Loyalists of Beaufort District with Katie Epps
2026-03-26 11:00 - 12:00
In some ways, the American Revolution was Beaufort District’s first civil war. Join Palmetto Bluff Archaeologist Katie Epps as she discusses the often-overlooked Loyalists of Beaufort District and their actions in the Revolutionary War.
This program is part of the “Historically Speaking” local history series, brought to you by the Beaufort District Collection and the Beaufort County Historical Society.

Revolutionary War Day 2026
2026-03-28 10:00 - 16:00
Come for the cannon but stay for the activities!
As South Carolina prepares to commemorate the 250 th anniversary of the American Revolution, we present a full day of historical adventure. This day’s event is hosted by the SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum where you are transported back in time. This day promises fun for all ages including but not limited to games, scholarly lectures, and hands-on projects. We focus on the importance of the American Revolution while paying special attention to how South Carolina was involved. One of our most popular activities of the past (we bring it back every year) is when people are able to sign their names with a quill pen just like our founding fathers. This is explained to visitors by having a large, framed copy of the Declaration of Independence.
Schedule of events

Conversations of Freedom Speaker Series: Carolina to Canada and Beyond
2026-03-29 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Middleton Place Pavilion
Cost: Free; advanced registration is required.
Dr. Bernard Powers, director of the Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston and professor emeritus of history at the College of Charleston, and Rebecca Moffatt, Instructor of historic preservation at the College of Charleston and a native of Atlantic Canada, will explore the hidden stories of formerly enslaved South Carolinians who made the journey northward to Atlantic Canada and, in some instances, eventually continued on to Africa. This discussion will uncover the physical pathways taken by those who sought freedom, the cultural legacies which they left behind, and how we today can trace their stories from Carolina to Canada and beyond.

Liberty & Legacy: Part III: Francis Marion Papers
2026-03-29 15:00 - 16:00
Learn about the Francis Marion Papers, the original documents of General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion.
Registration is required for this event and opens March 16. Please call 864-850-7077 or see a staff member to reserve your place.

Write like a Revolutionary: 18th Century Communication and Quill Writing
2026-03-31 17:30 - 18:30
Join us on Tuesday, March 31, at 5:30 PM to learn how to write like a Revolutionary. Bill Williamson, local living history reenactor, will be here to present on 18th century quill writing and communication. As we delve into the 250th anniversary of our country, it is important to understand how our Revolutionary ancestors conducted business and wrote documents such as the Declaration of Independence. Come and learn about how early Americans communicated.

Captain Henry Felder Talk led by John Brian Eleazer
2026-03-31 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for an evening of learning and asking questions.
About Captain Henry Felder.
Hans Henrich Felder, later Henry Felder, was born in Switzerland, immigrated to America with his parents as a young boy and settled in the Carolina backcountry in 1735. His position in the colony was well established when the tyrannies of the British Crown in response to the malcontent in the Colonies prompted him to cast his lot with the independence movement. Felder, along with his seven sons, formed a militia company to fight “all for liberty.” Hear the story of his backcountry adventures and his two legendary canons which are still preserved and on display.
About the presenter
John Brian Eleazer is a native South Carolinian and a direct descendant of Captain Henry Felder, the protagonist in the book he authored, The South Carolina Militia and the Revolutionary War. For fifteen years, Brian researched and wrote about Henry Felder, originally for his family’s consumption and later expanded to capture the uniqueness of the South Carolina colony and emergence of the South Carolina militia — a story somewhat different than that of the other twelve colonies. Additionally, Brian has written several short stories for his children and grandchildren. He is a retired Air Force officer and holds degrees from Clemson University and Auburn University.
This event is a discussion, not an in-character performance.
In person at the Hughes Main Library, 25 Heritage Green Pl, Greenville, SC, 29601; via livestream on YouTube – a link will be in event description located here: https://historycomesalive.org/ and a few days after the event a recording of it will be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenvilleLibrary/search?query=chautauqua

“Resilience & Revolution: Native Peoples in 18th Century South Carolina” exhibit ("A Glorious Cause" series)
2026-04-01 09:00 - 2026-05-31 17:30
“Resilience & Revolution: Native Peoples in 18th Century South Carolina” is a traveling exhibit from the South Carolina State Museum that will be on public display at the Georgetown Library during regular operating hours (Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. / Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) in April and May 2026 as part of “A Glorious Cause: South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Public History Initiative by the Georgetown County Library.”
The project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the South Carolina State Library (SCSL).
Free & open to all.

Homeschool Day - Battle of Hobkirk's Hill
2026-04-01 10:00 - 12:00
Focused on the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill (teacher’s choice!) students will be taken through an in-depth walkthrough of the battle. Students will discuss the decisions made on both sides and use primary sources to gain an understanding about what happened in the past and how critical decisions affected the outcome of the battle.
suggested age group:
middle-high school students

Steven D. Smith, South Carolina Institute for Archaeology & Anthropology, “Francis Marion & the Snow’s Island Community: Myth, History, & Archaeology” ("A Glorious Cause" series)
2026-04-02 10:00 - 11:30
*Part of “A Glorious Cause: South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Public History Initiative by the Georgetown County Library,” South Carolina Institute of Archaeology & Anthropology Research Professor Steven D. Smith will use recent archaeological findings to shed new light on how the community of Snow’s Island aided General Francis Marion, known as the “Swamp Fox,” to successfully implement his evasive guerrilla tactics against British and Loyalist troops in our area of South Carolina.
The project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the South Carolina State Library (SCSL).
Free & open to all.

The Fall of Savannah
2026-04-07 17:30 - 18:30
Join Historian and Battlefield Preservationist Durant Ashmore for a Lecture on The Fall of Savannah – One of the most pivotal events of the Revolutionary War. The beginning of the British Southern Campaign.
Upcountry History Museum / 540 Buncombe Street / Greenville SC 29601
The Upcountry History Museum requires reservations. 85 capacity is usually a sell-out, call 864-467-3100 to make reservations.
Free to members, $14 to non-members. Lecture starts promptly at 5:30 pm.

Dr. Nicholas Cole, Director of the Quill Project/University of Oxford (UK), “Re-examining Founding Documents of the Revolution” ("A Glorious Cause" series)
2026-04-07 18:00 - 19:30
*Part of “A Glorious Cause: South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Public History Initiative by the Georgetown County Library,” the Waccamaw Library will host renowned historian Dr. Nicholas Cole, a Senior Research Fellow at the prestigious Pembroke College, University of Oxford, who has been invited to share his expertise on the figures and ideas that drove early American politics in lectures around Europe and the United States. Dr. Cole serves as Director of the Quill Project, an innovative software platform used to recreate the original political and historical contexts in which major democratic legal documents were created. The Quill Project’s flagship project is a presentation of the 1787 Constitutional Convention, which produced the Constitution of the United States. Dr. Cole’s presentation is sponsored in partnership with the Coastal Carolina University HTC Honors College.
The project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the South Carolina State Library (SCSL).
Free & open to all.
