Founders Day 2008

Founder’s Day Events - Cowpens National Battlefield Celebrates 92 Years of National Park Service Preservation on August 23 and 24, 2008

Cowpens National Battlefield Superintendent Tim Stone announced today that the park would be celebrating the 92th birthday of the National Park Service. “For ninety-two years the National Park Service has been conserving the heritage of our nation, saving it for this and future generations.The National Park Service preserves the natural wonders of Yellowstone, commemorates the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition and honors the heroes that fought in the Battle of Cowpens. We here at Cowpens are very proud to preserve our heritage and serve the public in our community and across the nation.”

Saturday

August 23, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., the South Carolina Independent Rangers will have an encampment and perform Revolutionary War era military drills, demonstrate 18^th century military camp life, and fire reproduction rifles and muskets. The South Carolina Independent Rangers portray Revolutionary War backwoods militia and teach visitors about 18^th century military and civilian life in the South Carolina backcountry. Firing demonstrations will be at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Sunday

August 24, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., children can try on replica clothing from the 1700s and play with historical toys at the Robert Scruggs house. In addition, young peoplecan earn a Junior Ranger badge by completing the Junior Ranger activity book. The program is targeted for children between the ages of 6-12 and will take about one hour to complete.

Rangers will lead guided battlefield walks at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Throughout the weekend, the park’s new 18-minute award-winning video, “Cowpens: A Battle Remembered” will be shown on the hour from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

On August, 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law a bill authorizing the creation of the National Park Service, which was charged by Congress to protect and preserve the areas for the benefit of future generations. Join the Cowpens National Battlefield staff in celebrating this anniversary. In the words of author Wallace Stegner, “National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst."

Cowpens National Battlefield protects and preserves the historic Revolutionary War Battlefield where American General Daniel Morgan defeated the British forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton on January 17, 1781. The park is located 3 miles east of Chesnee, SC and 10 miles west of Gaffney, SC on SC Highway 11. Visitor Center hours are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Days. For more information, call [phone] or visit the park’s webpage at www.nps.gov/cowp/.

-NPS-