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Battle of Musgrove Mill

Battle of Musgrove Mill  Image
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HOURS

Main Gate: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., daily Visitor Center: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon - Thurs, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri - Sun Horseshoe Falls Area: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., daily Musgrove Mill Battlefield: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily Blackstock Battlefield: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily

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ADMISSION

$3 adults; $1.50 SC seniors; $1 children age 6-15; age 5 & younger free

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PETS

Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife.

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No Wifi Available

Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site

Midlands

Park Manager

Dawn Weaver

Park Manager

Hello there! I am Dawn Weaver, manager of the Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site. Oddly enough, I grew up adjacent to this park and spent my time playing in the river and creek long before there was a state park here. I was raising my children on the family farm and teaching college psychology classes concurrently to high school students, when one day my son was doing his Eagle Scout project at the park and the ranger at Musgrove Mill said he was looking for seasonal help. It sounded like a job for me!  From there I dove into the field of interpretation and a love of the education that happens at state parks.

My favorite moment of the day on this park is sunrise. Due to the natural diversity of this park, the early morning hours are filled with wildlife and birds. Whether I sit on the porch with a cup of coffee and watch birds or walk the trail with my camera, it’s a thoughtful, meditative way to watch the park come to life each morning. My favorite place on the park is the British Camp trail along the Enoree River. The sound of the water over the rocky shoals, the deep forested trail with old growth trees and twisted vines is a nice place to get away to think. My favorite educational experience is to watch the interpretive ranger weave the story of the battle into a hike and hands-on activities for school groups. To watch their eyes as they take in the experience of a children’s muster is the very heart of what we do here. A must-do for a first-time visitor is to walk in the footsteps of soldiers that fought for what they believed in, on either side. Think about which side you may have taken in the conflict. Think about what a sweltering August battle must have been like in the backcountry of South Carolina, and think about those who gave their lives here, on this ground, for us to be Americans.

**Our Ultimate Outsider stamp is located at the kiosk in front of the Visitor Center.

Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site preserves, protects, and interprets the site of the August 19, 1780 American Revolutionary War battle of Musgrove’s Mill. This battle between 200 Patriot militia and a joint force of 200 Loyalist militia and 300 British Provincial troops was a surprising Patriot victory and a major turning point during the Revolutionary War. This victory boosted the failing morale of South Carolina Patriots and dispelled the British high command’s belief that they had crushed all Patriot resistance following the major Patriot defeats at Camden on August 16, 1780 and Fishing Creek on August 18, 1780. Park staff interprets not only the Battle of Musgrove’s Mill, but also the brutal ‘partisan’ warfare that took place throughout upstate South Carolina that divided the loyalties of communities and families during the American Revolution 

The battle and the history of the Revolutionary War in the South Carolina Backcountry is detailed through interpretative signage in the Visitor Center and along the 1-mile British Camp Trail and a 1.5-mile Battlefield trail.  

Natural features of the park include Horseshoe Falls, a fishing pond, and the Enoree River. Special events, Ranger Guided Hikes, and Living History programs are held at the park throughout the year. 

Find out more about Revolutionary War sites in South Carolina and visit other battlefields and historic sites.

BY THE NUMBERS

1 Revolutionary War battlefield that was the site of a pivotal fight won by the American militia

1 visitor center with displays and exhibits that tell the story of the Musgrove Mill battle

1 small but awesome waterfall, that has a unique story and an overlook accessible by a paved trail

2.5 miles of interpretive trails that traverse the park

1 picnic shelter with restrooms for your next picnic or group gathering

397 acres of historically significant land

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