Illustration of a soldier in Revolutionary Way holding a flag with a crescent shape in the upper left corner
Deeper Dive Series

Carolina Day - Celebrating since 1777!

What is Carolina Day?

Before you grab your American flags for the Fourth of July, grab your palmetto-themed items and celebrate Carolina Day! As we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, we will also be honoring the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island. The battle took place on June 28, 1776, and has been celebrated annually as “Carolina Day” since 1777. 

This battle is one of more than 400 battles and skirmishes that took place in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War, reflecting the pivotal role our state played in the fight for independence. See below to learn more about “Carolina Day,” and the Battle of Sullivan’s Island. You can also explore more of that history and see amazing artifacts from the era in the new exhibition, American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution, now open at the South Carolina State Museum. 

 

The Defense of Fort Sullivan 

Wide view of the entrance to the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition at the South Carolina State Museum. A large wood-paneled feature wall displays the exhibition title alongside a mural depicting Revolutionary War soldiers in battle. In front of the wall is a glass-topped interactive exhibit table on polished wood floors, with the open gallery extending into the background.

Attack on the fort on Sulivan’s Island the 28 June 1776 / painted by Henry Gray. Courtesy of Library of Congress.

As all South Carolina schoolchildren learn, the palmetto logs of the hastily constructed Fort Sullivan withstood a withering barrage from British warships. While tradition claims the cannonballs simply "bounced off," it is more accurate to say the spongy nature of the palmetto logs and the surrounding sand absorbed the bombardment, shielding the defenders within. Col. William Moultrie, commanding the American forces, had only 31 guns at his disposal, yet they inflicted heavy damage on the British fleet. Moultrie concentrated his fire on the British ships and utilized "hot shot," heated metal cannonballs designed to set wooden ships ablaze. Simultaneously, American forces on the island successfully thwarted a British amphibious assault involving over 2,500 soldiers and marines. 

The Signature Object: The 2nd South Carolina Regiment Flag 

Featured in the new exhibition, American Battleground: South Carolina’s Revolution, the 2nd South Carolina Regiment Flag. Following the victory at Sullivan’s Island, Susannah Elliott, wife of Major Barnard Elliott, presented this flag to the 2nd South Carolina Regiment on July 1, 1776. The regiment carried the flag through the defense of Charleston in 1779, where British troops at the Battle of Savannah in October 1779. British commander Col. Augustine Prévost took the banner to England, where it remained for generations. In 1989, the South Carolina State Museum and the Smithsonian Institution jointly purchased the flag to return it to the United States. 

Learn More About the 2nd Regiment Flag
SC State Flower Yellow Jasmine

A Legacy of Commemoration 

To honor the pivotal victory at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, the people of Charleston held their first celebration one year later, in 1777, and the tradition has continued ever since. Over the centuries, the occasion has been known by various names, but it has been officially referred to as "Carolina Day" since 1875. Modern celebrations typically include artillery salutes, militia demonstrations, and parades, often accompanied by the ringing of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church bells. 

 

Join the Celebration 

American Battleground: South Carolina’s Revolution is the first exhibition to be completed under the State Museum's Reimagine the Experience project, a major initiative to renew more than 150,000 square feet of gallery space and feature more of the museum’s extensive collection.

Wide view of the entrance to the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition at the South Carolina State Museum. A large wood-paneled feature wall displays the exhibition title alongside a mural depicting Revolutionary War soldiers in battle. In front of the wall is a glass-topped interactive exhibit table on polished wood floors, with the open gallery extending into the background.
View inside the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition featuring a large curved digital wall displaying a blue-toned Revolutionary War scene with mounted soldiers and troops carrying flags. In front of the mural are two interactive touchscreen tables, while a nearby wall features maps illustrating the progression of the American Revolution in South Carolina. The gallery has polished wood floors and an open, modern exhibit design.
Gallery view of the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition featuring glass display cases with Revolutionary War artifacts, including weapons, personal items and documents. A long rifle is displayed in a raised case against a wood-paneled wall with interpretive text, maps and a digital screen showing a historical figure. The gallery has polished wood floors and a modern exhibition design.
Close-up of an interactive touchscreen in the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition displaying Eye of the Storm, featuring an illustrated Revolutionary War soldier with the prompt, "Touch anywhere to begin." Behind the screen, a long rifle and other artifacts are displayed in glass cases alongside interpretive panels in the modern gallery space.
Interactive touchscreen table in the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition invites visitors to explore Revolutionary War battles in South Carolina. Mounted above the table are four illustrated maps showing how the conflict unfolded across the state during the periods 1775–1776, 1777–1779, 1779–1781 and 1781–1782, set against a scenic forest backdrop.
Wide view of the entrance to the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition at the South Carolina State Museum. A large wood-paneled feature wall displays the exhibition title alongside a mural depicting Revolutionary War soldiers in battle. In front of the wall is a glass-topped interactive exhibit table on polished wood floors, with the open gallery extending into the background.
View inside the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition featuring a large curved digital wall displaying a blue-toned Revolutionary War scene with mounted soldiers and troops carrying flags. In front of the mural are two interactive touchscreen tables, while a nearby wall features maps illustrating the progression of the American Revolution in South Carolina. The gallery has polished wood floors and an open, modern exhibit design.
Gallery view of the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition featuring glass display cases with Revolutionary War artifacts, including weapons, personal items and documents. A long rifle is displayed in a raised case against a wood-paneled wall with interpretive text, maps and a digital screen showing a historical figure. The gallery has polished wood floors and a modern exhibition design.
Close-up of an interactive touchscreen in the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition displaying Eye of the Storm, featuring an illustrated Revolutionary War soldier with the prompt, "Touch anywhere to begin." Behind the screen, a long rifle and other artifacts are displayed in glass cases alongside interpretive panels in the modern gallery space.
Interactive touchscreen table in the American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution exhibition invites visitors to explore Revolutionary War battles in South Carolina. Mounted above the table are four illustrated maps showing how the conflict unfolded across the state during the periods 1775–1776, 1777–1779, 1779–1781 and 1781–1782, set against a scenic forest backdrop.

 

Deepen your connection to our state's history and plan a visit to see, American Battleground: South Carolina's Revolution, this Summer!