Upcountry Road to Freedom: Upstate South Carolina During the American Revolution

April 11 – September 5, 2027 
In a war remembered more for battles at Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown, it was the events of the Southern Campaign, 1778-1781, that finally turned the tide for American independence. The hard-fought war came to an end in 1783, but not before South Carolina found itself at the frontline of battles against British forces determined to regain control of the war by redirecting their efforts to the Southern colonies.  This central military operation involved strategic battles in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia.

More than 135 military engagements took place in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War.  Most were skirmishes involving patriots and loyalist militias.  A few, however, were battles that directly affected the outcome of the war.

Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, the exhibition will focus on Upcountry South Carolina people, places, and events.  This major exhibition, organized by the Upcountry History Museum in partnership with Clemson University and private collectors, will explore the lesser known people of the Upcountry South Carolina, who helped turn 13 colonies into one nation.

Historic artifacts, archival materials, and accoutrements from soldiers, civilians, and diverse groups, many on loan from private collections, will illustrate key phases of the war including the path to independence, colonists to revolutionaries, the war’s darkest hours, and the new nation’s formation.

Diverse perspectives, including stories of Upcountry South Carolina women, African Americans (free and enslaved), indigenous peoples, and soldiers will further illustrate what it meant to gain independence and become the United States of America.