Ninety Six National Historic Site

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Ninety Six National Historic Site
Location	Greenwood County, SC, USA
Nearest city	Greenwood, South Carolina
Coordinates	34°8′49″N 82°1′28″W / 34.14694, -82.02444
Area	1,022 (4.14 km²)
Established	August 19, 1976
Visitors	28,734 (in 2005)
Governing body	National Park Service

Ninety Six National Historic Site, also known as Old Ninety Six and Star Fort, is a United States National Historic Site located about 60 miles (96 kilometers) south of Greenville, South Carolina. The historic site was listed on the National Register in 1969,^[2] declared to be a National Historic Landmark in 1973,^[1] and established as a National Historic Site in 1976 to preserve the original site of Ninety Six, South Carolina, a small town established in the early 1700s.

[edit] History

The unusual name of Ninety Six was bestowed upon it by traders who mistakenly believed that 96 was the number of miles from the town to the Cherokee village of Keowee to the north. During the French and Indian War of the mid 1700s, the town was twice attacked by the Cherokee.

[edit] Revolutionary War

Sunset over the battlefield at Star Fort.

Ninety Six had become a prosperous village by the time the American Revolutionary War came knocking at the door. The first land battle of the war fought south of New England took place at Ninety Six in 1775. The village became a Loyalist stronghold early in the war and was fortified by the British in 1780. From May 22 - June 18, 1781, Continental Army Major General Nathanael Greene led 1,000 troops in a siege against the 550 Loyalists in the village. The 28-day siege, the longest of the entire war, centered on an earthen fortification known as Star Fort. Despite having more troops, Greene's patriots were eventually unsuccessful in taking the town.

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.^[1][3]

According to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, the "historic district of Ninety Six National Historic Site contains numerous historical features."^[4]

A special ceremony was held the weekend of May 20, 2006 to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Star Fort.

Reenactors at the 225th anniversary celebration

Island Ford Road is one of the many original Colonial road beds that cross various trails throughout the park

[edit] The site today

Ninety Six National Historic Site is located two miles (3.2 kilometers) south of the present day town of Ninety Six on South Carolina Highway 248. The National Park Service maintains a visitor center at the site. A one mile (1.6 kilometer) interpretive trail begins at the visitor center and takes visitors to the remains of Star Fort as well as the original site of Ninety Six. Additional off-road trails weaving through the woods lead to Star Fort Pond, an old unidentified cemetery (believed to be a slave cemetery from post-colonial times), and to the graves of Major James Gouedy, a trader influential in the founding of Ninety Six and Major James Mayson, who captured a significant gun powder cache to be used by the Americans.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ninety Six National Historic Site, Greenwood County (S.C. Hwy. 248, Ninety Six vicinity), including 20 photos, at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
• National Park Service: Ninety Six National Historic Site

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