![\"play\"](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/appservices\/universal-web\/universal\/icons\/icon-play-alt-white.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWatch as historians re-enact the Battle at Cowpens 245 years later<\/p>\n
The anniversary of the Revolutionary War’s 1781 Battle of Cowpens gave battlefield visitors a dose of living history as the U.S. marks its 250th year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/media-video><\/div>\n
The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence<\/a> will be celebrated in South Carolina and across the nation this year.<\/p>\n But in the Upstate, there’s reason to feel a special connection.<\/p>\n From Cowpens National Battlefield<\/a> to King’s Mountain<\/a> to Musgrove Mill<\/a> and beyond, the number and significance of the Revolutionary War battles that took place in South Carolina’s Backcountry and neighboring areas of North Carolina are staggering.<\/p>\n Beyond the battlefields were stories of families torn apart, of individual Americans making incredibly difficult decisions as this region of the country was split among those who supported the Patriot movement and others who stayed loyal to the British Crown.<\/p>\n “I don’t think I would want to trade places with them,” said Chumley Cope, a Spartanburg-based scholar who leads tours of historic sites around the Southeast and beyond.<\/p>\n There was “family member against family member.” The war threatened starvation for many — there were refugees throughout the region just trying to survive, Cope said.<\/p>\n These are the stories that, in Cope’s view, help bring the story of America’s founding to life.<\/p>\n “There were real human predicaments — things to be studied. “None of it was real cut and dry. There’s lots of human drama.”<\/p>\n In 1976, the United States was caught up in patriotic fervor over the nation’s Bicentennial<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fifty years later, there’s a renewed spotlight on the nation’s history.<\/p>\n Here in the Upstate, those who study history appreciate that the national celebration of 250 years of independence highlights the region’s connection to the American Revolution.<\/p>\n The understanding of that history has evolved since 1976, thanks to technology and those devoted to documenting the past.<\/p>\n “Genealogy\u00a0has become more of a science. Technology has made it a more viable pursuit,” said Spartanburg-based historian and tour guide Chumley Cope.<\/p>\n Family histories have yielded discoveries about people and places important in the Revolutionary War<\/a>, Cope said.<\/p>\n At the same time, preservation efforts in recent decades have made numerous battle sites more accessible and educational.<\/p>\n But, Cope said, it’s important to recognize past efforts to remember those who fought for independence.<\/p>\n In 1910, Daughters of the American Revolution<\/a> chapters erected monuments in a flurry of activity to commemorate the war.<\/p>\n The site of the Cedar Springs battle in southern Spartanburg County is one of dozens of locations in the Upstate recognized and preserved for those who want to learn about the region’s Revolutionary War history.<\/p>\n South Carolina is home to many historic places worth visiting this summer.<\/p>\n This spring, we featured many of these places, including the Burt-Stark Mansion, Fort Hill National Historic Landmark, Secession Hill, Scenic Highway 11, and Cowpens National Battlefield.<\/p>\n As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary this summer, why not plan a visit to one of these historic sites?<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to read the story.<\/p>\n America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence will be celebrated on Independence Day, July 4, 2026.<\/p>\n Communities across the nation will mark the occasion with festivals, parades, fireworks, and backyard cookouts.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s where to celebrate America\u2019s semiquincentennial and the Fourth of July in Greenville, Anderson, and Spartanburg counties.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to read the story.<\/p>\n Travelers Rest<\/a>\u00a0will kick off a two-day celebration of America\u2019s 250th anniversary this weekend, highlighted by the unveiling of a new statue honoring Revolutionary War heroine\u00a0Dicey Langston<\/a>\u00a0and a community-wide slate of events.<\/p>\n The TR250 Celebration Weekend, set for Friday and Saturday, June 26\u201327, will feature historical programming, live performances, and a drone show finale \u2014 all centered on recognizing Langston\u2019s legacy and the Upstate\u2019s role in the nation\u2019s founding.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to read the story.<\/p>\n Visitors learned about life in the 18th century at Walnut Grove Plantation<\/a> in Roebuck on Oct. 3, 2025, as America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026.<\/p>\n Watch the video below.<\/p>\n Walnut Grove 18th century living with music, food, camping and battles<\/p>\n Visitors learned about life in the 18th century at Walnut Grove Plantation in Roebuck on Oct. 3, 2025, as America celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/media-video><\/div>\n Greenville\u2019s annual\u00a0Fourth of July<\/a>\u00a0celebration is getting a new twist this year, as a live symphony performance replaces the traditional recorded soundtrack to the city\u2019s fireworks show.<\/p>\n The City of Greenville has partnered with the\u00a0Greenville Symphony Orchestra<\/a>\u00a0to present a live concert during\u00a0Fireworks at Unity Park<\/a>, presented by Clemson MBA, scheduled for 6\u201310 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at\u00a0Unity Park<\/a>, 320 S. Hudson St, Greenville, according to a community announcement.<\/p>\n The event will feature food vendors, live entertainment, and a fireworks finale choreographed to live orchestral music \u2014 a first for the city\u2019s Independence Day celebration.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to read the story.<\/p>\n This year’s\u00a0Freedom Blast<\/a>\u00a0event in\u00a0Greer<\/a>\u00a0will mark America’s 250th birthday and the city’s 150th anniversary, with a lineup that includes skydivers, fireworks, and a military tribute.<\/p>\n The event will take place Saturday, June 27, at\u00a0Greer City Park<\/a>, beginning at 6 p.m. Admission to the festival and parking are free, but attendees can pay for access to a Kids Zone with amusement rides and purchase food, drinks, and merchandise throughout the event.<\/p>\nRenewed spotlight on the nation’s history<\/h2>\n
See SC’s treasured views to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary<\/h2>\n
Where to celebrate America 250 in the Upstate<\/h2>\n
Celebrates America 250 with patriotic music, drone show this weekend<\/h2>\n
Learn about life at Walnut Grove Plantation<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/10\/05\/PGRE\/86531052007-1004-rev-war-era-reenactment-walnut-grove-spa-250-america-638.JPG?crop=2885,1623,x0,y183\"\/)
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nGreenville Symphony to perform at Fireworks at Unity Park<\/h2>\n
Freedom Blast will mark America’s 250th birthday<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2026\/06\/26\/PGRE\/90710711007-tr-250-062626-am-0615.JPG?crop=2090,1176,x0,y436\"\/)
<\/p>\n