Is All Barbed Wire the Same?

Barbed wire proved invaluable for marking boundaries on the open prairie. Soon after its invention in 1874 there were over 570 different patents and thousands of variations. You can examine dozens of them on the fence nearby.

Why so many? Early ...

The Muster Field

“Will you let them burn the town down?”

Lt. Joseph Hosmer of Concord

“I haven’t a man who’s afraid to go.”

Captain Isaac Davis of Acton

“Do not fire on the King’s troops unless first fired upon.”

Colonel James Barrett of Concord

In the field beyond, ...

King's Mountain Battleground

Twelve miles northwest the battle of King's Mountain was fought October 7, 1780. The 900 Whigs were under Colonels Campbell, Shelby, Sevier, Hill, Lacey, Williams, Cleveland; Lieutenant Colonels Hawthorn, Hambright; Majors McDowell, Chronicle, Winston, Chandler. The 1100 Tories were under ...

“An Affair Most Important to Us” - The Federal Right, October 27

“A Hard Nut To Crack”

As Hood’s Army of Tennessee encircled Decatur, sharpshooters advanced upon the Union defenses. Colonel Doolittle’s men responded with heavy artillery and musket fire. During the early afternoon of October 27, the Confederates approached the Federal breastworks ...

Fort Sumter Today

Fort Sumter, visible in the far distance of Charleston Harbor, looks very different today. Built after the War of 1812, its tow two tiers are gone, destroyed during the Civil War. The fort's center is now dominated by Battery Huger, ...

South Carolina Canal & Rail Road Company

Original Track Location

Began first successful scheduled steam railroad service in America on December 25, 1830, and by 1833 its 136 miles from Charleston to Hamburg made it the world’s longest railroad. Now part of Southern Railway System.

Marker is ...

Coulter Memorial Academy Site

Organized in 1881, this Negro Presbyterian (USA) school was founded by the Rev. J.P. Crawford with support from Mrs. C.E. Coulter from whom it received its name. The Rev. G.W. Long was academy president from 1908 until 1943, and Coulter ...

Downer Institute & School / Downer School, 1924–1986

Downer Institute & School

Downer Institute, founded in 1843, was originally located 1.5 mi. NE of this site and operated until 1865. It was named for benefactor Alexander Downer (1752–1820), whose will established an orphanage and school at Beech Island. ...

“A Hard Nut To Crack” - Federal Defenses at Decatur

“A Hard Nut To Crack”

Decatur played a key role in the Federal defenses of the vital rail lines in North Alabama. These defenses were configured in a three-tiered system. First, a number of lightly armored gunboats, constructed on the Tennessee ...

Beech Island Baptist Church

[Marker Front]:

This church was organized in the Beech Island Academy on January 21, 1832, with Rev. Iverson Brooks as its first minister and Mathias Ardis and Randolph Bradford as its first deacons. This sanctuary, built on land donated by James ...