Background & Purpose

In fall 2015, the National Park Service provided the City of Gaffney with funding to explore the creation of a “discovery center” to celebrate the American Revolutionary War with an emphasis on the Southern Campaign. The NPS was compelled to provide funding for such a plan for three primary reasons:

1Gaffney’s geographic location is ideal for telling the story of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution; 2 Gaffney’s historic Carnegie Library is now vacant and in need of repurposing; and 3 A destination-quality Discovery Center will help strengthen revitalization efforts along Gaffney’s historic Main Street.

James Taylor, Gaffney City Manager, Boone Peeler, Gaffney Councilman, and John Slaughter with the

National Park Service visit the Historic Carnegie Library and discuss its possible future.

The City of Gaffney is centrally located among the most significant assets of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution: Cowpens National Battlefield; Kings Mountain National Military Park; and the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.

Cowpens National Battlefield The Cowpens National Battlefield is located approximately 14 miles from Downtown Gaffney. Cowpens National Battlefield preserves the site where Brigadier General Daniel Morgan won a decisive Revolutionary War victory over British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton on January 17, 1781. It is considered one of the most memorable victories by Morgan and one of the most memorable defeats of Tarleton. Established as Cowpens National Battlefield on March 4, 1929, this site was transferred from the War Department on August 10, 1933 and later redesignated on April 11, 1972. Cowpens was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.

Kings Mountain National Military Park Kings Mountain National Military Park is located approximately 20 miles from Downtown Gaffney, along the North Carolina/South Carolina border. The park commemorates the Battle of Kings Mountain, a pivotal and significant victory by American Patriots over American Loyalists during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Thomas Jefferson referred to the battle as, “The turn of the tide of success.”

Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail The 440 mile Commemorative Motor Route of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail includes portions of the City of Gaffney’s Main Street. The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVHT) is part of the U.S. National Trails System. Stretching 330 miles through four states (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina), the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail traces the route used by patriot militia during the pivotal Kings Mountain campaign of 1780.

KEEP THE STORY ALIVE

The National Park Service recognizes that the City of Gaffney, with its unique history and central location between Cowpens National Battlefield and Kings Mountain State Park, serves a vital role in telling the story of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution.

Driving distance between the two parks with a stop in Gaffney is approximately 34.5 miles.

LEGEND

OVERMOUNTAIN VICTORY HISTORIC ROUTE

OVERMOUNTAIN VICTORY MOTOR ROUTE

Carnegie’s libraries were built according to the “Carnegie Formula,” which required matching financial commitments from local partners.

GAFFNEY’S HISTORIC CARNEGIE LIBRARY: A LEGACY OF PARTNERSHIP

Carnegie Library is located across from City Hall and along Gaffney’s Main Street and provides a compelling location within which to tell the story of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution.

Built in 1914, the Gaffney Carnegie Library was one of more than 2,500 libraries funded across the world by Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie made his fortune in the steel industry during the industrial revolution and late in his life became a devoted philanthropist. When Carnegie died in 1919, he had given nearly 90% of his fortune to causes in which he believed; his gifts to various charities totaled nearly $350 million.

The Gaffney Carnegie Library operated as a library until the early 70s. Most recently, the historic building served as offices for Cherokee County until their new government campus opened in 2014. The County will consider providing the building to the City of Gaffney, should a plan be approved to create the Revolutionary War Discovery Center.