Kings Mountain National Military Park ready for 225th anniversary observance

Contractors, volunteers and the park staff at Kings Mountain National Military Park are working at full throttle to ensure the park is ready for the 225th Anniversary of the Battle of Kings Mountain on Oct. 7, 2005. After many months of planning, the park is prepared to deal with the large crowds that are anticipated for the events October 7-9.

The activities commemorating the battle that historians refer to as the "turning point of the American Revolution in the South" will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, with a wreath laying ceremony at the U.S. Monument. The park is expecting over 100 wreaths to be placed at the monument by members of patriotic organizations, including the Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Revolution, the Daughters of the American Revolution and Children of the Revolution. The wreath laying ceremony will be followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand re-opening of the park's museum exhibits.

The park's museum has taken on an entirely new look. The exhibits will feature a combination of audio-visual programs, maps, graphics and many new artifacts from the Battle of Kings Mountain, many of which have never been displayed to the public.

The official commemorative ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. in the park amphitheater. The keynote speaker will be David K. Wilson, author of “The Southern Strategy: Britain's Conquest of South Carolina and Georgia, 1775-1780.”

On Saturday, Oct. 8, and Sunday, Oct. 9, the park will have an array of living history activities conducted by re-enactors from as far away as New Jersey. There will be a Loyalist encampment set up at the site of Maj. Patrick Ferguson's headquarters and other patriot re-enactors will be set up at the base of the ridge near the visitor center.

At 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday there will be a tactical demonstration on the ridge near the place where Ferguson surrendered.

Visitors should plan on utilizing offsite parking for the events. The offsite parking will be at the Kings Mountain State Park near the Lake Crawford bathhouse. Another offsite parking area will be set up near the west entrance of the park. Shuttle buses will be running throughout the day from the state park to the national park visitor center.

For more information, call the park at 864-936-7921. A full schedule of the activities can be viewed on the park's website, www.nps.gov/kimo.