Hanging Rock
2026- Named to National Historic Trust for Historic Preservation America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
On August 6, 1780, several hundred Patriot troops under General Thomas Sumter attacked British and Loyalist troops encamped near Hanging Rock along the Great Wagon Road. The battle, fought largely by militia forces on both sides, saw Patriot troops capture two of the three British camps before retreating. Although Sumter could not hold the ground, the Patriots inflicted heavy losses, boosted morale throughout the region, and strengthened support for the Revolutionary cause in South Carolina.
Today, Hanging Rock remains an important reminder of the state’s dynamic Revolutionary War history. Currently, more than 300 acres of the battlefield are permanently protected, while hundreds of further acres remain vulnerable to development and other threats. Preservation partners continue working to secure and protect the remaining historic landscape before development encroaches fully on the once-rural site.
