The Olde English District launches new Backcountry Revolution Trail

Two and a half centuries ago, the American Revolution wasn’t just fought by armies on distant shores—it was a brutal civil war fought in the fields, forests, courthouse squares, and family homes of the South Carolina Backcountry. Today the Olde English District (OED) is proudly connecting visitors with those landscapes, communities, and historic sites where history unfolded, through the Backcountry Revolution Trail.

Spanning seven historic counties in north-central South Carolina (Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Union, and York), the Backcountry Revolution Trail is a curated, immersive journey connecting the hallowed ground where the “tide of the war turned.”* This expansive trail invites travelers to experience the true fabric of the American Revolution across 15 landmark locations:

• Kings Mountain National Military Park
• Battle of Huck’s Defeat at Historic Brattonsville
• Historic Camden and Historic Sites
• Revolutionary War Visitor Center
• Buford’s Defeat
• Battle of Hanging Rock
• Andrew Jackson State Park
• Battle of Blackstock’s State Historic Site
• Chester County Historical Society Museum
• Fairfield County Museum
• Old St. David’s Church and Cemetery
• Lancaster Historic Court House and Museum
• Catawba Cultural Center
• Landsford Canal State Park

Real Places. Real People. Real Revolution.

What sets the Backcountry Revolution Trail apart is its commitment to an inclusive, comprehensive history. Moving beyond traditional battle maps, the trail uncovers the deeply personal and under-told stories of the diverse people who stood their ground. Visitors will dive into the fierce contributions of backcountry women like Martha Bratton, as well as Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson and her young son Andrew (the future 7th U.S. President), alongside the legendary actions of African American patriot Andrew Ferguson (veteran of Kings Mountain and Camden) and Peter Harris of the Catawba Indian Nation.

“We are excited to launch the Backcountry Revolution Trail to illuminate the profound importance our region held in the founding of our nation,” said Micah Decker, Executive Director of the Olde English District Tourism Commission. “This trail was built to tell our full story—from famed battlefields to the deeply personal, under-told perspectives of the people who lived it. By connecting these powerful sites, we are inviting visitors to journey off the beaten path and explore the unique character, local businesses, and quiet beauty found in our region’s most rural corners.”

Interactive Learning & New Podcast
To enhance the visitor’s journey, the trail website features interactive educational tools for all ages, including itineraries, a comprehensive historic timeline, an engaging Patriot v. Loyalist quiz, and downloadable coloring pages and educational resources.

Coming Soon! Listen to the official Trail audio companion, The Olde Stories New Voices podcast, which will dive deeper into the real places, people and stories of the South Carolina Backcountry.

More than a history tour, the Backcountry Revolution Trail is a journey through the heart of the Southern Campaign and the places where the tide of the war began to change. It is a chance to experience the landscapes, stories and communities that helped define America and continue to shape the spirit of the South Carolina backcountry today.

Walk the path. Discover the grit. Join the Backcountry Revolution! Visit BackcountryRevolutionTrail.com to chart your adventure today!

About the Olde English District Tourism Commission

The Olde English District Tourism Commission (OED) is the official Destination Marketing Organization for Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Union, and York counties in South Carolina. Deriving its name from the region’s early settlements in the mid-1770s, the OED is dedicated to authentic storytelling—from the fires of the Revolutionary War to the rhythm of local music and the legacy of the Civil Rights movement. The OED invites visitors to Connect with Character through outdoor recreation, charming downtowns, and unique culinary adventures.