South Carolina's 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution

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Overview

South Carolina ETV and Public Radio is partnering with SC250, recognizing the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. SC250’s mission is to commemorate and highlight South Carolina’s role in the war by educating, engaging and inspiring both residents and visitors. This content will spotlight untold stories of individuals whose experiences helped shape America’s future.

A Capitol Fourth 

A Capitol Fourth celebrates our nation’s birthday with a live broadcast from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol - honoring our freedoms and independence, and those who defend them. The all-star event features patriotic and musical performances across genres with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of premier pops conductor Jack Everly, along with spectacular fireworks live from George Washington's Mount Vernon. 

The Southern Campaign of the American Revolution

Explore how South Carolina became the turning point of the American Revolution

Celebrate America 250 with SCETV and SC Public Radio

Historical reenactors load a cannon at the Backcountry Revolution Trail opening ceremony in Camden.

Revolution, defeat, and lessons from Camden

In the early morning of August 16, 1780, the Southern Continental Army faced British and Loyalist troops on the battlefield. Just three months earlier, the British had effectively captured Charleston...
The grave site of Founding Father Thomas Heyward Jr. at his childhood home, the Old House Plantation in Richland, S.C. Heyward was one of four South Carolinians who signed the Declaration of Independence. June 16, 2026.

Jasper County celebrates patriot resistance for America 250

Beneath the swaying shade of lush live oaks laced with Spanish moss, the chiseled bust of Thomas Heyward Jr. looks out on the Old House Plantation property in Jasper County, along a marsh.
The nuances of the Revolutionary War are on display at the Abbeville Chamber of Commerce building. The city and county are rediscovering and reclaiming a complicated history that has throughlines to this day.

In Abbeville, the Revolutionary past is (quite literally) under your feet

The scent of fresh-mown kudzu somehow cuts through air as dense and hot and humid as a summer greenhouse. This path we're on, four of us, is being carved out, literally as we're walking on it.
James Peale's painting "Sir Peter Parker's Attack Against Fort Moultrie"

Charleston Concert Band commemorates Battle of Sullivan's Island with premiere

In this Sonatas & Soundscapes interview that aired Friday, June 26th, host Bradley Fuller hears from Charleston Concert Band Director Basil Kerr about the ensemble's upcoming premiere of a work...
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Our Story, Too

Women, Native Americans and African Americans in the Revolutionary War

The American Revolution: A film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt

Thirteen American colonies unite in rebellion, win an eight-year war to secure their independence, and establish a new form of government that would inspire democratic movements at home and around the globe. What begins as a political clash between colonists and the British government grows into a bloody struggle that will engage more than two dozen nations and forever change the world. 

The American Revolution is a six-part, 12-hour documentary series that explores the country’s founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence. The film is directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt and written by Geoffrey Ward. To learn more about the film, visit  pbs.org/americanrevolution.

South Carolina ETV and SC250 invite community partners, schools and organizations to join in commemorating our state’s role in America’s founding by hosting a screening for The American Revolution.

If your organization is interested in hosting an event, please review the information in the engagement toolkit and complete the interest form. This will help us compile a list of participating hosts and coordinate the appropriate promotional resources. If you have additional questions, please contact SCETV directly via email.

Once you’ve signed up, we’ll share additional materials, including the promotional toolkit and clip reel, to help you make your event successful.

Join us in celebrating 250 years of the United States of America.

Dr. Walter Edgar & Ken Burns: The American Revolution and South Carolina’s Pivotal Role

This exclusive conversation features renowned South Carolina historian Dr. Walter Edgar and award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns discussing Burns’s latest project, The American Revolution. 

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Filmed during Burns’ trip to South Carolina in early 2025, he shares insights into the research, production and storytelling that brought the series to life. Burns and Dr. Edgar also further examine South Carolina’s crucial role in the Southern Campaign. Their discussion highlights key figures and battles, including The Fall of Charleston, The Battle of Kings Mountain and The Battle of Sullivan’s Island. They also explore the deeply personal nature of the conflict, where neighbors and families were divided between patriots and loyalists. Burns and Dr. Edgar also reflect on how the Revolution was both a fight for independence and a civil war that reshaped communities across the South.

This Week in South Carolina: Behind the Lens with Ken Burns 

This week in South Carolina host, Gavin Jackson, sits down with legendary filmmaker Ken Burns ‪to discuss his upcoming documentary exploring the American Revolutionary War, its untold stories, and the impact it hand on shaping the United States.

Ken Burns in South Carolina

Award-winning filmmaker, Ken Burns, came to Charleston for an exclusive preview of the new series, The American Revolution, directed by Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. 

"The American Revolution" with Ken Burns

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