Kings Mountain National Military Park that commemorates a pivotal and significant victory by American Patriots over American Loyalists during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. The battle was fought on October 7, 1780, destroying the left wing of General Cornwallis' army and effectively ending the Loyalist ascendance in the Carolinas. The victory halted the British advance into North Carolina, forcing Cornwallis to retreat from Charlotte back into South Carolina gaving General Nathanael Greene chance to reorganize and supply the American Army.

Kings Mountain National Military Park was established on March 3, 1931 by an act of Congress "in order to commemorate the Battle of Kings Mountain."

Kings Mountain National Military Park is the end of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail commemorating the route that the Patriot army through the mountains to the battlefield.

Did You Know?

South Carolina had more Revolutionary War battles or skirmishes than any of the other colonies. Most of them were fought entirely between Americans.

The battle of Kings Mountain lasted about one hour. The Americans lost about 100, the Loyalists lost about 385 and 716 were captured. The dead were buried on the battlefield in unmarked graves and they have never been found.

President Herbert Hoover's visited the Kings Mountain Battlefield in 1930. It was the first time an American president visited a Southern Revolutionary War Site. An estimated 75 to 80 thousand people attended the 150th anniversary in 1930.

Major Patrick Ferguson was the only Briton at the battle of Kings Mountain. The 1,000 or so men fighting on the British side were all American born.

Kings Mountain battlefield is part of the 16 mile Kings Mountain Range, which starts in North Carolina and extends 1.5 miles into South Carolina. The Kings Mountain Range was named after an early settler, not the King.