Hanging Rock Battlefield Named One of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
(Heath Springs, S.C.) — The American Battlefield Trust is honored to share that the Revolutionary War’s Hanging Rock Battlefield has been named one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“This recognition underscores both the historic significance of Hanging Rock and the urgent need to protect it for future generations,” said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. “Being included on this nationally recognized list will help elevate awareness and build momentum for preserving this important Revolutionary War site.”
Since its debut in 1988, the annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places has galvanized support for more than 350 sites nationwide and has become one of the country’s most effective tools for raising awareness and mobilizing support for threatened historic treasures. This year the list tells a more cohesive story framed around America’s 250th anniversary, with each historic place illustrating a different connection to the founding-era principle that All People Are Created Equal.
Carol Quillen, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation stated, “The story of the Battle of Hanging Rock adds a layer of complexity to our understanding of the Revolutionary War, beyond what most Americans already know about northern battles at Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, or Saratoga. At this southern outpost, the battle reveals the human cost and complex alliances of the Southern Campaign, where neighbors fought neighbors for self-governance and their unalienable right to liberty. Preserving critical portions of the Hanging Rock Battlefield and developing a substantial park site would allow visitors to fully experience this place and its unique and often unrepresented stories.”
The designation shines a national spotlight on ongoing efforts to protect and preserve Hanging Rock while highlighting the importance of community-led preservation initiatives, as well as the ongoing need for robust funding mechanisms to support land acquisition, interpretation, and long-term stewardship. Hanging Rock is among the most recent recipients of matching funds from the federal American Battlefield Protection Program’s land acquisition grant program. This hugely successful initiative incentivizes public-private partnerships for historic land preservation, leading to the permanent protection of 40,000 acres of hallowed ground.
In order for this track record of success to continue for years to come, the grant program must be reauthorized by Congress, and legislation is currently pending in both houses. In conjunction with Hanging Rock’s 11 Most Endangered listing, the National Trust is urging Americans to contact their federal legislators and encourage them to support the bill. Visit the National Trust website to take action to protect Hanging Rock and hundreds of other priority battlefield landscapes.
On August 6, 1780, several hundred Patriot troops under General Thomas Sumter attacked British and Loyalist troops encamped near Hanging Rock along the Great Wagon Road. The battle, fought largely by militia forces on both sides, saw Patriot troops capture two of the three British camps before retreating. Although Sumter could not hold the ground, the Patriots inflicted heavy losses, boosted morale throughout the region, and strengthened support for the Revolutionary cause in South Carolina.
Today, Hanging Rock remains an important reminder of the state’s dynamic Revolutionary War history. Currently, more than 300 acres of the battlefield are permanently protected, while hundreds of further acres remain vulnerable to development and other threats. Preservation partners continue working to secure and protect the remaining historic landscape before development encroaches fully on the once-rural site.
The site is also part of The Liberty Trail SC, a statewide initiative developed in partnership with the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust to connect and interpret key Revolutionary War locations across the Palmetto State. Visitors to Hanging Rock can currently experience a three-quarter-mile walking loop and interpretive signage detailing the battle and its significance.
The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.
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