Upcoming events
Join us throughout the year as we honor the people and events that defined Spartanburg County’s Revolutionary War history
Lifelong learning series at Wofford with Charlie Gray
EVERY THURSDAY
March 19 - May 7
Events, people and places in Spartanburg, Laurens, Union and Cherokee Counties broke the back of the British plan to subdue the South during The Revolutionary War. Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States by learning more about its history from various experts. This class will present key aspects of the Revolutionary War struggle in and around the Spartan District over eight weeks of classes. Instructors and topics will vary throughout the term. Instructor Mark Anthony will cover July 1780 skirmishes, August skirmishes, Kings Mountain and Cowpens (1781). Thereafter, we will learn about Heroines of the American Revolution (Dr. Gloria Close), Communities and Local Heroes Along the Path to Cowpens (Rick Meehan), The Indian Contribution (Chief Lamar Nelson), and Actions and Events in Neighboring Districts--Laurens, Cherokee, Union (Durant Ashmore). A $10 book fee and $5 copy fee will be added to your registration.
Genealogy Workshop: Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestors
Reservations required. Registration includes all four sessions. Sessions presented by Jasie Stokes, staff genealogist at the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and Olivia Millunzi, reference librarian at the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
For organizations or vendors that would like to have a table at the workshop, please contact the Kennedy Room for more information.
EVENT SCHEDULE
10:00-10:20 Light Refreshments
10:20 Introductions & Housekeeping
10:30-11:30 Proving Your Patriot: How to Apply the Genealogical Proof Standard to
Revolutionary War Research
Many family stories claim a Revolutionary War ancestor, but how do we turn those stories into credible, documented proof? This workshop introduces the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) as the foundation for successful lineage society applications. Participants will learn how to locate key Revolutionary War and local records, evaluate and correlate sources, resolve conflicting evidence, and craft clear conclusions. Real case examples will illustrate how the GPS can transform scattered documents into a solid, provable lineage. Whether you’re just beginning your search or working toward a lineage society application, you’ll walk away with strategies to strengthen your genealogical work.
11:30-11:45 Break
11:45-12:45 So He Wasn’t a Soldier- Now What?: Non-Military Service & the DAR
Not every Revolutionary War Patriot carried a gun or fought in a battle- many used other offices and actions to prove their “unfailing loyalty to the cause of American Independence.” The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) accepts a wide range of non-military service to establish Revolutionary War Patriots. Join us as we explore what
12:45-2:15 Lunch on Your Own
2:15-3:15 Patriots in Petticoats: Proving Female Patriots in the DAR
Many researchers looking for Revolutionary War Patriots hope to prove service for an elusive female patriot. Building on our earlier talk about non-military service, and using examples of previously proven female DAR Patriots, we’ll discuss what qualifies as service for female ancestors, and challenges unique to verifying service for a female Patriot. We’ll also cover types of documentation you can explore to find a female Revolutionary War Patriot.
3:15-3:30 Break
3:30-4:30 Untangling Identities: Disambiguating Same-Name Patriots and Their Descendants
One of the most challenging problems in Revolutionary War research is distinguishing between multiple ancestors or patriots who share the same name. This workshop will focus on disambiguation techniques—the methods genealogists use to separate and correctly identify individuals in the records. Using wills, probate files, militia rolls, land deeds, and family associations, we’ll explore how to tell “which John Smith is which” and avoid attaching the wrong ancestor to your lineage. Participants will examine case studies, including local examples, and work through short exercises to practice resolving identity conflicts. By the end, you’ll have practical tools to confidently verify the right patriot for your DAR/SAR application or personal family history.
Location Headquarters Library
Room Barrett Room
Category Special Events
Contact Name Christen
Contact Phone 864-596-3508
Downtown Spartanburg Walking Tour
Did you know Elvis Presley once performed in Spartanburg, how Morgan Square got its name, or where the clock in the clock tower came from?
If you’re looking for something different to do on Saturday morning or have out-of-town visitors and want to give them a taste of Spartanburg, check out our Downtown Walking Tour and learn about the interesting history of the Spartanburg community!
Limited space available, advanced registration required
1776 Tavern Dinner @ Walnut Grove Plantation
For one evening, Historic Walnut Grove transforms into an 18th-century colonial tavern. Gather by candlelight for dinner, drinks, music and dancing inspired by the food, fellowship, and traditions of the South Carolina backcountry.
For one evening, Historic Walnut Grove transforms into an 18th-century colonial tavern. Gather by candlelight for dinner, drinks, music and dancing inspired by the food, fellowship, and traditions of the South Carolina backcountry.
This immersive evening brings history to life, recalling the tavern’s role as a place of community in early Spartanburg County.
Proceeds benefit the Spartanburg County Historical Association and support the preservation of Historic Walnut Grove and our educational programs.
Space is limited. Period attire welcomed but not required.
Menu:
Colonial Milling Cornbread
Traditional Pickled Vegetables
Carolina Mountain Trout
Roasted Turkey
Carolina Gold Rice
Belue’s Farms Stewed Field Peas
Queens Cake
Madeira Wine, Ale, Signature Cocktails
Cowpens Battle Ground Library Day
Join park rangers, Spartanburg County Public Libraries, and Cherokee County Public Libraries in celebrating National Reading Month on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Details below:
Library Day: March 7, 2026, 10:00 am to 2:30 pm
Bookmobiles
10:00 am to 2:30 pm
Librarian-led Storytimes
10:00 am, 11:30 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm
Special Talk
Assistant Director of Local History, Brad Steinecke, "The Spartan Regiment and the Return of Spartanburg's Revolutionary Banner," at 11:30 am inside of the Visitor Center.
Ranger-led Battlefield Walks
10:30 am and 12:30 pm
Children's Activity Station
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Musket Firings
11:45 am, 12:45 pm, 1:45 pm
Dummy Gun Drills
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Voices of a Nation
Kicking off the “Festival of American Voices”
Kicking off 2026 and the “Festival of American Voices,” this concert presents a vivid survey of American classical music, highlighting voices from different cultural backgrounds. From the rhythmic energy of Chokfi’ by Chickasaw composer Jerod Tate to Florence Price’s evocative Mississippi River Suite, which weaves together spirituals into symphonic form, the program reflects the richness of American heritage. Aaron Copland’s Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo, with its iconic “Hoe-Down,” captures the spirit of the American West, while a new work by composer Peter B. Kay adds a fresh local perspective. Together, these pieces create a musical patchwork celebrating the diversity and depth of American artistry.
Learn more about America 250 by clicking here.
Celebrate America 250 with
Spartanburg Philharmonic!
Lunch & Learn Chapman Cultural Center
When we think of the American Revolution, familiar male names often take center stage, but women were fighting, leading, spying, organizing, and shaping history every step of the way.
From the fields of the South Carolina backcountry to the streets of Boston, these women defied expectations and changed history: Eliza Lucas Pinckney, Jane Thomas, Kate Barry, Sarah Fulton, Nancy Hart (Wahatche), Mary Ludwig Hays, Deborah Sampson, Mammy Kate, Phillis Wheatley, and Hannah Till. Join us for this month’s Lunch & Learn that will shine a spotlight on the fearless women who helped forge a nation.
Lunch and Learn is sponsored by the Chapman Cultural Center
There are a limited number of seats, be sure to register in advance (even members!)
Admission: $5 for non-members / Free for SCHA members.
Don’t forget to bring your lunch!
Chautauqua: Ernest Hemingway
A novelist, journalist and short story writer, Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) revolutionized all three literary forms with his abbreviated style, earning him the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for The Old Man and the Sea and the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature. His adventurous life was as rebellious and noteworthy as his writings, making him a celebrity as famous for his exploits as for his writing. It was a life of warring, bull fighting, woman chasing, drinking, big-game hunting and fishing that was romanticized during his lifetime as well as now. A member of the post-war Lost Generation, he married four times and witnessed and wrote about both world wars and the Spanish Civil War. Obsessed with death and living with grace under pressure, Hemingway died by his own hand at age 61.
Chautauqua: Ernest Hemingway
A novelist, journalist and short story writer, Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) revolutionized all three literary forms with his abbreviated style, earning him the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for The Old Man and the Sea and the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature. His adventurous life was as rebellious and noteworthy as his writings, making him a celebrity as famous for his exploits as for his writing. It was a life of warring, bull fighting, woman chasing, drinking, big-game hunting and fishing that was romanticized during his lifetime as well as now. A member of the post-war Lost Generation, he married four times and witnessed and wrote about both world wars and the Spanish Civil War. Obsessed with death and living with grace under pressure, Hemingway died by his own hand at age 61.
Lunch & Learn
Lunch and Learn is sponsored by the Chapman Cultural Center
There are a limited number of seats, be sure to register in advance (even members!)
Admission: $5 for non-members / Free for SCHA members.
Don’t forget to bring your lunch!
Battle of Cowpens
Join us on Saturday, January 17 (9:00 am to 5:00 pm) and Sunday, January 18 (9:00 am to 5:00 pm) 2026 to observe the 245th anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens. There will be free programs for all ages, including historic weapons demonstrations, children’s activities, cavalry demonstrations, special guest presenters, ranger programs, and more! For a schedule of events: 245th Anniversary Commemoration (U.S. National Park Service)
Lantern tours are held on January 17, beginning at 5:40 pm. Lantern Tours require registration in advance. We begin taking reservations on Friday, January 2, 2026. Call 864-461-2828 ext. 2. The Visitor Center is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday.
Tavern Talk
2nd Annual Battle of Cowpens Tavern Talk
Citizens of the Backcountry of South Carolina will be meeting at the local tavern to discuss the events surrounding the Battle of Cowpens. Come and join them to discuss the largest battle fought in the Backcountry during the American Revolution.
This event is sponsored by the Spartanburg 250 Committee and RJ Rockers Brewery.
Chautauqua: Daniel Morgan
In describing Daniel Morgan many words come to mind: ambitious, pugnacious, enterprising, cantankerous (but affable!) – and specifically in the context of the American War for Independence one could assign the qualities of endurance and genius.
This untutored son of the frontier was the only general in the American Revolution, on either side, to produce a significant original tactical thought - his brilliant disposition at Cowpens of Militia, Continental Regulars, and Light Cavalry arranged perfectly to terrain and the prejudices of his enemy. Seldom has a battle, in which greater numbers were not engaged, been so important in its consequences as that of the Battle of Cowpens; Cowpens leads to Guilford Courthouse, Guilford Courthouse leads to Yorktown – and Yorktown leads to victory in the War for Independence.
*ASL interpretation will be provided.*
Registration is required.
Chautauqua: Daniel Morgan
In describing Daniel Morgan many words come to mind: ambitious, pugnacious, enterprising, cantankerous (but affable!) – and specifically in the context of the American War for Independence one could assign the qualities of endurance and genius.
This untutored son of the frontier was the only general in the American Revolution, on either side, to produce a significant original tactical thought - his brilliant disposition at Cowpens of Militia, Continental Regulars, and Light Cavalry arranged perfectly to terrain and the prejudices of his enemy. Seldom has a battle, in which greater numbers were not engaged, been so important in its consequences as that of the Battle of Cowpens; Cowpens leads to Guilford Courthouse, Guilford Courthouse leads to Yorktown – and Yorktown leads to victory in the War for Independence.
*ASL interpretation will be provided.*
Registration is required.
Daughters of the American Revolution
Daughters of the American Revolution
Battle of Cowpens Chapter Reception
Tuesday January 13 4-6pm
Speaker William Caldwell: National Park Service
Robert Hett Chapman Center for Philanthropy