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History of Ninety Six National Historic Site There are several legends surrounding how Ninety Six got its name. One romanticized legend revolves around an Indian named Cateechee. She supposedly learned of an Indian attack & rode to warn her British boyfriend. As she traveled, she named the streams & found her boyfriend at a trading post at the 96th stream. This supposedly happened in 1760 during the Cherokee War, but we have historic evidence that in 1730 George Hunter, who was the Surveyor General, made a map that marked the area as Ninety Six. The area was believed to be 96 miles from the lower Cherokee Indian town of Keowee (near where Clemson, SC is today).
Ninety Six was part of the supply route for the British, and it connected the important British posts at Camden and Augusta.
The Star Fort was the strongest part of the Loyalist system at Ninety Six. It was designed that way because the multiple points allowed for cross firing as well as for better coverage of a large area. It was also instrumental in keeping the enemy from approaching the town from the North on the Island Ford Road.
The digging of the patriot trenches, the building of the rifle tower, and the digging of the mine were the key events of the siege. There were several reasons that the attack on the star fort was unsuccessful but the biggest reason was lack of time, and men.
Many people found themselves at odds with not only their neighbors, but also their families. For example, one local woman sympathized with the loyalists while her husband was a patriot. He actually kicked her out of the house because of it!
Recently, archeologists discovered the charred remains of a banquette (a raised step behind a rampart for firing) inside the Star Fort. This tells us that when the loyalists left they not only burned the town but burned the wooden structures that were part of the fort. There have also been discoveries of a mix of musket parts, including parts of the British-made Brown Bess musket, the French-made Charleville musket, rifles, and parts of swivel guns. In the latest archaeological field school, scholars found a mortar ball in one of the walls of the fort. Previously it was believed mortars weren't part of the siege.
The town of Ninety Six was burned in July 1781 when the Loyalists left. In the 1820s a town named Cambridge was developed, just north of the Stockade Fort. A small college and several stores were built along with over a dozen houses. The town never succeeded, primarily because of the movement of the county seat to nearby Abbeville SC and also because the railroad companies built tracks north of Cambridge, through the present town of Ninety Six SC. Today nothing remains of the town of Cambridge.
The site has been preserved over time thanks in large part to the locals who prevented it from being plowed over for farming and pushed for it to become part of the National Park Service. It was designated as a National Historic Site in 1976 and has been preserved over the years. Park rangers strongly encourage visitors to stay off the fort's walls and trenches so that they will not be damaged.
The Star Fort is one of the best preserved forts from the American Revolution. Also, General Kosciuszko's 125 foot mine is the only surviving mine from the American Revolution.
Ninety Six has a staffed visitor center that is open Wednesdays-Sundays. There is an educational video about the site along with a small museum with historical artifacts. In addition, guided tours, field trips for school groups, a Junior Ranger program, a BARK Ranger program (for dogs) and special events with living history demonstrations occur throughout the year.
We don't know. Archeological digs haven't revealed exactly where soldiers from either side are buried. We do have two known graveyards within the Park. Patriot James Mayson & his wife are buried along Hwy 248 near the Daughters of the American Revolution monument. Also, along the Gouedy Trail there is the grave of Robert Gouedy's son, James Gouedy, and a graveyard of about 50 unknown people.
We have an incomplete list of the participants from the battle in the Visitor Center. Please ask one of the rangers or volunteers in the visitor center. 
Recreation at Ninety Six National Historic Site There are a lot of great recreational opportunities at Ninety Six. You can walk our ten miles of trails. You can fish at the Star Fort Pond (during fishing season and fishing days). You can have a picnic at the site. You can also ride horses along our equestrian trail.
Yes, dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash & under control at all times. Dogs are not allowed in the visitor center.
No, but Lake Greenwood State Park is nearby and offers camping.
The trail is 1 mile in length & it usually takes visitors 30 to 45 minutes to walk the trail depending on how many signs they stop and read along the way.
Yes. We recommend visitors that might have trouble walking, walk the trail backwards. You would start the trail in front of the cabin and end by the Visitor Center. This way visitors go down our biggest hill. There are two small hills along the trail. Benches are along the entire trail to rest and a wheelchair is available in the Visitor Center.
No, we do not have battle reenactments. However we have living history events where you can learn about how people lived in the 1700s. These take place every April and November. Check our special events section for more information.
The restrooms are located across from the entrance to the visitors center.
Come see a ranger or a volunteer in the visitor center for trail information and current trail conditions.
Fishing at the Star Fort Pond is allowed on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from April 1st to October 31st.
Boats propelled by paddles or electric motors are allowed in the Star Fort Pond. Swimming is not allowed in the park.
Nature at Ninety Six Ninety Six has a lot of great wildlife! From fish, turtles and frogs in the Star Fort Pond, to birds throughout the park, snakes, butterflies, dragonflies, and beautiful trees and wild flowers, Ninety Six is a great place to enjoy nature!
Yes! Ninety Six is home to over 160 species of birds! Birding is great at the Star Fort Pond and around the battlefield. Join us for a guided birdwalk!
Ninety Six has many habitats that support reptiles. These include but are not limited to shallow wetlands, floodplain areas, streams, and river swamps. There are many different kinds of snakes, lizards, and turtles that you may see here at the park. It is important to note that you should NOT touch the reptiles you see because some may be venomous, and it is better to just look rather than touch.
There are 18 species of mammals at Ninety Six National Historic Site including white-tailed deer, otters, bobcats, coyotes and bats. A few of these animals are easier to spot than others! Mosquitoes and ticks are prevalent in this part of the country in the warm weather months. We do have some venomous snakes so stay on trails and paths and be careful with where you step.
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Last updated: March 24, 2025