Ninety Six National Historic Site, SC

On September 4th 2021 we headed toward Ninety Six National Historic Site. It is located 2 miles south of Ninety Six in the Piedmont area of South Carolina. Before reaching the site, I had to turn around to take a peek at this charming small town. A settlement was established in the area before the Revolutionary war. The current town started around a railroad stop between Greenwood and Columbia. As the textile industry flourished in neighboring Greenwood, Ninety Six’ population expanded. A railroad depot, built in 1915 closed in 1978 and became a community center in 1982. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ninety Six’ population was 1,998 people in the 2010 census.

I learned a great deal about the historical significance of the area. Due to its location at the crossroads of trading routes between Cherokee land and Charleston, Ninety Six became “a seat of power in the British colony of South Carolina”. The first southern land battle of the Revolutionary War in 1775 was fought on this site. In 1780 Loyalists built a star shaped fort. It was earthen with 14 ft walls that reached 17 feet with the addition of sandbags during battle. Its 8-point design allowed firing from all directions. In 1781 a 28-day siege of the fort by Patriot troups led by General Nathanael Greene ended in their withdrawal. The Loyalists abandonned fort and town shortly thereafter.

We learned a lot about historical events and 1700 warfare techniques through educational signs and drawings spread out along a one mile paved historic interpretive trail. We also hiked the Cherokee path that leads to the beautiful Star Fort Pond, a 24 acre lake at the back of the property.

Visitors can see the partially reconstructed Stockdale Fort not far from the Star Fort. The Logan’s Log House is also on the property near the entrance and visible from the road. Built in the 18th century, it is the oldest cabin in Greenwood county. It is used for living history programs.

I highly recommend visiting especially if you are interested in history and warfare. I found the park enjoyable and educational. The trails are beautiful and well maintained. The park offers picnic tables and very clean bathrooms.

References Ninety Six National Historic Site, The Town Of Ninety Six, American Battlefields

The Historic Site