- 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°N 82.02444°WCoordinates: 34°8′49″N 82°1′28″W / 34.14694°N 82.02444°W Area 1,022 acres (414 ha) Established August 19, 1976 Visitors 28,734 (in 2005) Governing body National Park Service Ninety Six and Star FortNearest city: Ninety Six, South Carolina Architect: Henry Haldane Architectural style: Other Governing body: National Park Service NRHP Reference#: 69000169 Significant dates Added to NRHP: December 3, 1969[1] Designated NHL: November 7, 1973[2] 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,[1] declared to be a National Historic Landmark in 1973,[2] 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 18th century.
Contents
History
The most common proposed etymology of the toponym Ninety Six is a reference to the distance in miles between the location and the Cherokee town of Keowee. Supporters of such an etymology are at pains, however, to explain away the fact that the distance between the two locales is in fact 78 miles. David P. George, Jr., has advanced the alternative hypothesis that Ninety Six is in fact a reinterpretation of “the nine and six,” a reference to two sets of southerly flowing streams—nine tributaries of Marion and Henley creeks and six tributaries of Thompsons Creek—in an area in which the trunk stream tends to be fed by north/easterly flowing streams.[3]
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.
Ninety Six was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.[2][4]
According to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, the "historic district of Ninety Six National Historic Site contains numerous historical features."[5]
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 parkThe 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 that includes a small museum containing artifacts found at the site, as well as other period artifacts, and oil paintings of the battle and local leaders of the American Revolution. A video about the battle is available, and there is also a gift shop. Visitors can rent a self-guided audio tour of the park.
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.
References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ a b c "Ninety Six and Star Fort". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=839&ResourceType=District. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
- ^ George, David. P., Jr. (2001). "Ninety Six decoded: origins of a community’s name". The South Carolina Historical Magazine 92 (2): 69–84. ISSN 00383082.
- ^ Janson L. Cox and Mrs. James W. Fant (1969). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: PDF (32 KB). National Park Service and Accompanying five photos, from 1969 and 1986PDF (32 KB)
- ^ "Ninety Six National Historic Site, Greenwood County (S.C. Hwy. 248, Ninety Six vicinity)". National Register Properties in South Carolina listing. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/greenwood/S10817724001/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
External links
- National Park Service: Ninety Six National Historic Site
- 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
- Ninety Six siege
- Photos from National Park Lover
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Federal Charles Pinckney National Historic Site • Fort Sumter National Monument • Ninety Six National Historic SiteNational TrailsCape Romain • Carolina Sandhills • Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin • Pinckney Island • Santee • Savannah • Tybee • WaccamawACE Basin • North Inlet-Winyah BayCape Romain • Congaree • Ellicott Rock • Hell Hole Bay • Little Wambaw Swamp • Wambaw Creek • Wambaw Swamp
State Andrew Jackson • Baker Creek • Barnwell • Caesars Head • Cheraw • Chester • Colleton • Devils Fork • Edisto Beach • Givhans Ferry • Goodale • Hickory Knob • Hunting Island • Huntington Beach • Jones Gap • Kings Mountain • Lake Warren • Landsford Canal • Lee • Little Pee Dee • Myrtle Beach • Oconee • Paris Mountain • Poinsett • Santee • Sesquicentennial • Table RockCharles Towne Landing • Colonial Dorchester • Hampton Plantation • Musgrove Mill • Oconee Station • Redcliffe Plantation • Rivers Bridge • Rose Hill PlantationAiken State Natural Area • Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area • Croft State Natural Area • Dreher Island State Recreation Area • Hamilton Branch State Recreation Area • Keowee-Toxaway State Natural Area • Lake Greenwood State Recreation Area • Lake Hartwell State Recreation Area • Lake Wateree State Recreation Area • Lee State Natural Area • Sadlers Creek State Recreation Area • Woods Bay State Natural AreaHarbison • Manchester • Poe Creek • Sand Hills • Wee TeeWildlife Management AreasBear Island Wildlife Management Area • Belfast Wildlife Management Area • Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area • Campbell's Crossroads Wildlife Management Area • Crackerneck Wildlife Preserve • Donnelley Wildlife Management Area • Draper Wildlife Management Area • Edisto River Wildlife Management Area • Fant's Grove Wildlife Management Area • Gray Court Wildlife Management Area • Hickory Top Wildlife Management Area • James Ross Wildlife Reservation • Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area • Keowee Wildlife Management Area • Mason Wildlife Preserve • McBee Wildlife Management Area • McConnells Tract Wildlife Management • Palachucola Wildlife Management Area • Pee Dee Wildlife Management Area • Samworth Wildlife Management Area • Santee-Delta Wildlife Management Area • Thurmond Wildlife Management Area • Turkey Creek Wildlife Management Area • Turtle Island Wildlife Management Area • Webb Wildlife Center/Preserve • Woodbury Wildlife Management Area • Worth Mountain Wildlife Management AreaCategories:- American Revolutionary War sites
- French and Indian War
- Protected areas of Greenwood County, South Carolina
- National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
- National Historic Sites in South Carolina
- Museums in Greenwood County, South Carolina
- Protected areas established in 1976
- American Revolutionary War museums in South Carolina
- Parks in South Carolina
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