KINGS MOUNTAINKINGS NA ® TIONAL MILITARYTIONAL PARK A R esource Assessment

June 2010

®

Center for State of the Parks ®

More than a century ago, Congress established Yellowstone as the CONTENTS world’s first national park. That single act was the beginning of a remarkable and ongoing effort to protect this nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage. Today, Americans are learning that national park designation INTRODUCTION 1 alone cannot provide full resource protection. Many parks are PARK STATISTICS 5 compromised by development of adjacent lands, air and water pollu- tion, invasive plants and animals, and rapid increases in motorized KINGS MOUNTAIN NATIONAL recreation. Park officials often lack adequate information on the MILITARY PARK AT A GLANCE 5 status of and trends in conditions of critical resources. The National Parks Conservation Association initiated the State of RATINGS 6 the Parks program in 2000 to assess the condition of natural and cultural resources in the parks, and determine how well equipped the RESOURCE MANAGEMENT National Park Service is to protect the parks—its stewardship capac- HIGHLIGHTS 9 ity. The goal is to provide information that will help policymakers, the public, and the National Park Service improve conditions in KEY FINDINGS 10 national parks, celebrate successes as models for other parks, and THE KINGS MOUNTAIN NATIONAL ensure a lasting legacy for future generations. MILITARY PARK ASSESSMENT For more information about the methodology and research used in preparing this report and to learn more about the Center for State CULTURAL RESOURCES 12 of the Parks, visit www.npca.org/stateoftheparks or contact: NPCA, NATURAL RESOURCES 23 Center for State of the Parks, P.O. Box 737, Fort Collins, CO 80522; STEWARDSHIP CAPACITY 31 phone: 970.493.2545; email: [email protected].

Since 1919, the National Parks Conservation Association has been WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP 35 the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhanc- APPENDIX: METHODOLOGY 36 ing our National Park System. NPCA, its members, and partners work together to protect the park system and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for generations to come.

* More than 325,000 members * Twenty-three regional and field offices * More than 120,000 activists

A special note of appreciation goes to those whose generous grants and donations made this report possible: G.D.S. Legacy Foundation, Ben and Ruth Hammett, Alec Rhodes, Lee and Marty Talbot, Ray Cover photo: Detail of the United States Bingham, and anonymous donors. Monument, courtesy of Kat Byerly. INTRODUCTION KAT BYERLY

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The Battle of Kings Mountain, which took British Major Patrick Ferguson was sent to rally Patriot forces place on October 7, 1780, is often referred to as the men of the Carolina backcountry to the approached Kings Mountain on an old the turning point of the American Revolution. Loyalist cause. He attempted to use aggression Cherokee trail, now Victory at this battle in the colony of South and fear to acquire support and quell the called Colonial Road. Carolina raised Patriot morale and inspired the growing unrest of the largely neutral This is the only Americans to continue the struggle against the Carolinians. His threats caught the attention of historic structure in British, even after previously suffering disheart- several North Carolina and Virginia militias the park remaining from the time of the ening defeats at Charleston in May 1780 and and angered many militiamen, who mustered battle. Camden in August 1780. Following these along the Watauga River in Tennessee on British victories in Charleston and Camden, September 25, 1780, and began a grueling

This map shows troop movements during the Battle of Kings Mountain, as well as the location NATIONAL PARK SERVICE of contemporary park features.

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march across the Appalachian Mountains in his horse while attempting to retreat, and the

Kings Mountain National Military P pursuit of Ferguson and his Loyalist troops. Loyalists surrendered soon after that. At the Over the course of two weeks they covered battle’s end, 225 Loyalists were dead, while more than 200 miles. These militiamen only 26 Patriots, including Major William became known as the Overmountain Men. Chronicle, had been killed. Major Ferguson They were led by Colonels Isaac Shelby, John (promoted posthumously to Lieutenant Sevier, Charles McDowell, William Campbell, Colonel) and Major Chronicle were both Benjamin Cleveland, and James Williams and buried on the battlegrounds. Other soldiers Majors Joseph Winston and William Chronicle. were also buried on the battlegrounds, but the The opponents met in South Carolina at locations of those graves are unknown. Kings Mountain, a 60-foot-high ridge at the This American victory had devastating southern end of the Kings Mountain Range. effects on the British. General Charles Ferguson had chosen to rest his troops on top Cornwallis, the British commander in charge of the ridge, allowing the pursuing Patriots to of the Southern Campaign of the war, was easily take aim at the Loyalist soldiers’ silhou- forced to retreat and hold a defensive position ettes. The Patriots approached the ridge on an in Winnsboro, South Carolina, to await rein- old Cherokee trail that is now called Colonial forcements. This allowed Patriot forces to reor- Road. Using the cover of the hardwood trees ganize and develop a new offensive in the that grew around the ridge, the Patriot forces south, leading to a decisive win at the Battle of surrounded Ferguson’s troops and quickly Cowpens in January 1781, and, eventually, the ascended the hill. The battle lasted only an final triumph of General George Washington’s hour. Major Ferguson, the only non-American forces over Cornwallis at Yorktown in October who fought at Kings Mountain, was shot from of that year. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

3 ark Kings Mountain National Military P MATT KANIA BATTLE COMMEMORATION AND PARK being acquired by the Kings Mountain ESTABLISHMENT Centennial Association (KMCA), which was After the battle, the battlefield itself, owned by created in 1880 by delegates from South the State of South Carolina, lay largely Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia to dormant, except perhaps for some grazing. The commemorate the 100th anniversary of the surrounding countryside was used as pasture battle. This group raised funds from both and agricultural land. The battlefield was under private sources and state governments for a 29- the ownership of the State of South Carolina foot-high Centennial Monument that was until 1797, when Governor Charles Pinckney unveiled at the celebration and still stands granted the land to local resident John today. The KMCA disbanded shortly after the 4 Alexander, who then sold it to Kings Mountain celebration, and the land was donated to the veteran Colonel Frederick Hambright that Kings Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of same year. The first commemorative celebra- the American Revolution (DAR) in York, South ark tion for the Battle of Kings Mountain was held Carolina. in 1815, privately funded by Dr. William In 1906, the DAR secured $30,000 from the McLean, a senator from South Carolina. He U.S. Congress to erect another monument, also paid for the Chronicle Marker, which was with the stipulation that after the monument placed at the (supposed) burial site of was placed, responsibility for the site would Chronicle and three other Patriot soldiers who transfer to the Kings Mountain Battle Ground died during the battle. This is the second-oldest Association, of which the DAR was the primary battlefield marker in the United States. member. The funds appropriated from The battlefield and surrounding acreage Congress went toward the construction of an passed through several more hands before 83-foot obelisk known as the United States Kings Mountain National Military P These markers, the one on the left placed in 1815 and the one on the right in 1915, denote the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE supposed burial site of Major William Chronicle. More archaeological inves- tigations are needed to determine if Chronicle was actu- ally buried in this location. Monument. It is a quintessential example of KINGS MOUNTAIN NATIONAL MILITARY PARK early 20th-century war commemoration. AT A GLANCE A highlight in recognition for the battle and its importance occurred in 1930 when • Cultural resources: The park’s museum collection and archives President Herbert Hoover attended the battle’s contain items such as buttons, fired and unfired shot, weaponry, sesquicentennial celebration. The president clothing, and records relating to the battle. One of the highest emphasized the importance of the battle in profile items held by the park is an original Ferguson Rifle, the both American and British history and the synthesis of a traditional 18th-century rifle and a British musket need to preserve the historic site. Ironically, the that was developed by Major Ferguson. While there is no site was cleared of trees to accommodate the evidence that such a weapon was used during the Battle of 74,000 people who gathered to hear the presi- Kings Mountain, this extremely rare weapon exemplifies a 5 dent’s speech, which greatly altered its histori- historic development in 18th-century weaponry. cal appearance. In a show of friendship toward

• Natural resources: Kings Mountain National Military Park is ark Great Britain, he dedicated a new stone marker located in northwestern South Carolina in what is traditionally at the gravesite of Major Ferguson (an older called the Piedmont, a semi-open prairie with sections of mixed marker and cairn likely date to sometime hardwood forest stretching from the Atlantic Coastal Plain to before 1909), and Ronald Campbell from the the Appalachian Mountains. The park is home to a number of British Embassy delivered the acceptance plant species that are considered to be “species of concern” in speech. It was at this time that President South Carolina due to their rarity. Examples include creeping Hoover announced his intention to create a spike rush, joe-pye weed, Georgia aster, smooth sunflower, and park to preserve the history of the battle. eastern turkeybeard. Congress established the 40-acre Kings Mountain National Military Park on March 3, • Recreational activities: Visitors to the park can learn about the

1931. The park was administered by the secre- Battle of Kings Mountain and the role of the Carolina backcoun- Kings Mountain National Military P tary of war, who was authorized to acquire any try in the American Revolutionary War through wayside exhibits necessary lands through donations or along the shaded, 1.5-mile interpretive trail, living history purchase in order to ensure the preservation of demonstrations conducted by volunteers, interactive museum the entire battlefield site. Control of the park exhibits, and a new visitor center film. In addition, there are was transferred to the National Park Service in miles of hiking and horseback riding trails that pass through the 1933. Between 1936 and 1940, Congress adjacent Kings Mountain State Park. The park’s hiking trail authorized the purchase of up to 4,000 addi- system is also now linked to Crowders Mountain State Park in tional acres to augment the park and further North Carolina via the Ridgeline Trail. protect its natural and cultural resources. As part of the New Deal during the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps Kings Mountain National Military Park built several buildings and roads with money allocated to the park. In addition, a 6,000-acre Park location Northwestern South Carolina, near recreation demonstration area was created Blacksburg adjacent to Kings Mountain National Military Park in order to provide ample recreation Park size (acres) 3,945 opportunities for visitors and aid in the preser- vation of the historic nature of the military Park 1931 park. This recreation demonstration area establishment became Kings Mountain State Park in 1941. Recreational 277,576 visits (2009)

Note: When interpreting the scores for resource conditions, recognize that critical information upon which the ratings are based is not always available. This limits data interpretation to some extent. For Kings Mountain National Military Park, 90 percent of the cultural resources infor- mation was available, and 61 percent of the natural resources information was available. Ethnography was not rated because the park does not have an active ethnography program and has not completed baseline research such as an ethnographic overview and assessment.

RESOURCE CATEGORY CURRENT

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Overall conditions 81 GOOD Archaeology 78 6 Cultural Landscapes 81 Ethnography (Peoples and Cultures) N/A

ark Historic Structures 72 History 85 Museum Collection and Archives 90

RATINGS SCALE 0–35 36–60 61–80 81–90 91–100

CRITICAL POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT

NATURAL RESOURCES

Overall conditions 78 FAIR Environmental and Biotic Measures 83

Kings Mountain National Military P Biotic Impacts and Stressors 78 Air 75 Water 90 Soils 83 Ecosystems Measures 72 Species Composition and Condition 67 Ecosystem Extent and Function 74

RATINGS SCALE 0–35 36–60 61–80 81–90 91–100

CRITICAL POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT

The findings in this report do not necessarily reflect past or current park management. Many factors that affect resource conditions are a result of both human and natural influences over long periods of time, in many cases before a park was established. In addition, some park resources (e.g., air quality and water quality) can be affected by factors that are outside the park and beyond the Park Service’s control. The intent of the Center for State of the Parks is not to evaluate Park Service staff performance, but to document the present status of park resources and deter- mine which actions can be taken to protect them into the future. Living history programs presented by volunteers are favorite ways for visi- tors to gain a better NATIONAL PARK SERVICE understanding of park history.

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RATINGS adequate storage space to protect and preserve Kings Mountain National Military P In recognition of the important historical and museum and archival collections, and the natural resources protected within Kings need for additional staff, such as a museum Mountain National Military Park, the National technician and possibly a historian to be Parks Conservation Association’s Center for shared with other nearby Revolutionary War State of the Parks conducted an assessment to park units. But perhaps the greatest need is for determine current conditions of the park’s updated plans to guide park management resources. According to this assessment, the strategies and resource interpretation. The park park’s known cultural resources rated a is in the process of developing a new general “good” overall score of 81 out of a possible management plan, which is scheduled to be 100. The scores for cultural resources are based completed in early 2011. Also in the works is a on the results of indicator questions that long-range interpretive plan, which should be reflect the National Park Service’s own Cultural completed by September 2011, depending on Resource Management Guideline and other poli- funding. These plans will address topics such cies related to cultural and historical resources as management and preservation of the (see “Appendix” on page 36 for more informa- Howser House (a 19th-century historic struc- tion on the assessment methodology). ture), management of invasive species, restora- Challenges facing cultural resource tion of the cultural landscape, and develop- managers include the lack of baseline archaeo- ment of prospective interpretive themes. logical research and historic structure docu- Despite the above challenges, the park’s staff mentation, the lack of inventories for two of is doing a good job managing the park with the the park’s cultural landscapes, the lack of resources available. For example, Kings Ranger Justin Skewes teaches children about the park’s fire management program. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

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Kings Mountain National Military P Mountain National Military Park received the restoring the landscape to its Revolutionary third-highest Museum Collection and Archives War-era appearance and battling invasive non- score (90 out of 100) of any park assessed by native species that are encroaching on native the Center for State of the Parks to date (Fort plants. The Park Service is making headway in Donelson and Stones River National both arenas. Prescribed burns help restore Battlefields scored slightly higher at 93 and 91, forests to their 18th-century species composi- respectively). Partnering with the University of tion, and the park’s staff has been eliminating South Carolina in 1999 to conduct a massive heavy concentrations of various invasive non- archival assessment contributed to this high native species since the 1990s and is now focus- score. The project included organizing and ing on maintenance treatments and elimina- preserving the entire archive and cataloging it. tion of other invasive plants, especially in criti- In addition, the park renovated its museum in cal habitats. Additionally, park staff are 2005 in order to better interpret and preserve attempting to create a geographic information artifacts. systems (GIS) database of all known popula- Current overall conditions of the known tions of invasive plants. natural resources at Kings Mountain National See the “Key Findings” on pages 10 and 11 Military Park rated a “fair” score of 78 out of a for more information on resource conditions possible 100. Ratings were assigned through an and challenges. evaluation of park research and monitoring data using NPCA’s Center for State of the Parks comprehensive assessment methodology. Challenges facing the Park Service include

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Prescribed burns restore natural and and unfired shot. The locations of some of historical landscape. In 2000, the park these sites confirmed what historians, implemented a prescribed burn program archaeologists, and park staff already to alleviate wildfire pressures caused by believed about troop movements and increased vegetation density in the forest events during the battle, while the loca- and understory and to re-create the tions of other sites indicated that the historic views, lines of sight, and general outlines of the battlefield were much landscape that made the Patriot victory larger than park staff originally thought possible. The burns also improve park and that troop positions may have been habitats for birds. The landscape at the different than what has been previously 9 time of the battle was largely the area’s recorded. Additional information is natural setting of large hardwood trees needed to contribute to the understand- ark and Piedmont prairie. Assistance with ing of events, including the location of the burning operations comes from a wild- hitching ground where Patriot forces tied land fire module based out of Great their horses prior to the battle and the Smoky Mountains National Park. A fire location of mass burials. ecologist and fire effects crew, also based • Historic house used to teach visitors out of that park, provide monitoring data about 19th-century life in the Carolina that ensure the health and safety of backcountry. Though built in 1803, 23 resources. Close cooperation among all years after the Battle of Kings Mountain, disciplines is necessary to ensure both the historic Howser House is used to

natural and cultural resources objectives Kings Mountain National Military P educate visitors about backcountry living. are met. For example, before each The Park Service completely restored the prescribed burn, surveys are conducted to exterior of the house in 1977 and now assure that artificial fire breaks (i.e., breaks uses it periodically to host living history in vegetation to limit the extent or control programs. Staff have requested Park the direction of prescribed burns) do not Service funds to complete a historic destroy archaeological sites. furnishings plan, which would inform work • Education program reaches teachers to be done on the interior of the structure, and their students. The park participates such as ensuring the colors of moldings in the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program, are historically accurate. which gives teachers an opportunity to • Museum renovations allow park to work in a park setting and learn about display valuable artifacts. In 2005, the cultural and natural resources. The infor- park renovated its museum and installed mation they gain is taken back to their updated security, fire-suppression, and classrooms. climate-control systems to better protect • Archaeological surveys shed new light items on display. These improvements on battle events. The park’s most recent have made it possible for the park to battlefield archaeological surveys, showcase its Ferguson Rifle. The weapon conducted in 1999 and 2000 using metal was stolen from the park in 1964 and detectors and remote sensing, uncovered recovered in 1992, but security concerns five new clusters of artifacts, mainly fired prevented the park from displaying it until the 2005 renovations were completed.

KEY FINDINGS • Further research could explore possi- ble connections between park • Archaeological overview and assess- resources and American Indian ment would expand knowledge base. groups. An ethnographic overview and This work could locate other potentially assessment could determine to what significant historic sites as well as prehis- extent the area surrounding Kings toric sites that could inform park staff Mountain was used by or was important about possible American Indian use of to American Indians prior to the the area. Other archaeological work the Revolutionary War battle, and it could park would like to complete includes identify any potential traditionally asso- 10 surveys of the Colonial Road. Both ciated people. The Colonial Road is armies used this road to reach Kings thought to follow the route of an older Mountain prior to the battle, and it Cherokee trail, and research may be ark might be possible to identify the loca- able to clarify and expand on this story. tion of the hitching ground used by the • Museum and archival collections would Patriots. Continued surveys are also benefit from the addition of a museum needed to locate the mass burial site of technician. Currently, one of the park’s Loyalist soldiers as well as the graves of rangers cares for museum and archival Major Chronicle and those reburied with collections in addition to shouldering full- him during the commemoration cere- time interpretation duties. The park has mony in 1815. To date, there is no requested operational funds to hire a evidence that Chronicle was buried at museum technician to help catalog and the exact location where the burial manage the collections.

Kings Mountain National Military P marker was placed in 1815. • Additional work needed to address • Nineteenth-century historic structures some remaining museum deficiencies. need further documentation. The Although the park does a good job Howser House and Homestead, exam- managing its museum collections, addi- ples of early 19th-century Pennsylvanian- tional curatorial and storage space and German architecture not commonly updated security measures are needed found in the Carolinas, could be better for collection items not stored in the preserved and interpreted with the recently renovated museum. According completion of additional studies. These to the park’s collection storage plan, at might include a cultural landscape least 500 additional square feet of report, an updated historic structure storage space are needed and Park report, a historic furnishings report, or Service project funds have been other studies deemed appropriate by requested to address this need. Another park staff. In fact, park staff have already potential solution would be to construct requested Park Service funding for a a facility to store collections from Kings cultural landscape report and a historic Mountain and nearby parks pertaining furnishings report on the Howser House, to the American Revolutionary War and but no funds have yet been received. related themes. However, no plans are yet under way for such a facility. • Park’s forests have changed since • Park waters appear healthy. Many of Revolutionary War times. Kings the surface waters flowing through Kings Mountain is primarily forested, but clear- Mountain National Military Park origi- ing of trees in 1930, fire suppression, nate within the park, which largely pests, and disease outbreaks have modi- protects them from pollution sources. A fied the forest community so that today preliminary survey of benthic inverte- it is only somewhat representative of the brates, small organisms that live at the forest present during the Battle of Kings bottom of water bodies and can be indi- Mountain. Fire suppression has led to cators of ecological health, confirms that the dominance of fire-intolerant species water resources have a high level of and a decline in shade-intolerant pine integrity. The park’s wetlands have been 11 species. Some pine species have inventoried, but further study is neces- succumbed to pine beetle outbreaks. sary to determine the role that these Furthermore, the formerly dominant areas play in supporting wildlife popula- ark canopy tree in this region, the American tions and maintaining natural hydrologic chestnut, has been essentially extirpated processes. by the chestnut blight. Some species • Park’s air quality could be at risk. No such as maple, sweet gum, and sour- direct air-quality monitoring occurs wood are now present in higher inside the park, but the park’s location numbers than they were at the time of between two major metropolitan areas Nepalese browntop the battle. (Charlotte, North Carolina, and is a non-native plant species that has • Invasive non-native plant species Greenville, South Carolina) may make it invaded riparian threaten native plants. More than 10 vulnerable to declining air conditions. areas within the park Kings Mountain National Military P percent of the park’s 508 vascular plant Nearby power production also might and poses a severe species are not native to the area. The affect air quality at Kings Mountain threat to native ecosystems. Park park has identified 11 of these non-native National Military Park. Regional ozone staff work to eradi- species as being aggressive and capable measurements indicate levels of this cate non-native of invading areas. Forests, open areas, pollutant could be high enough at Kings species where possi- and riparian areas have all been affected Mountain to damage plant foliage. ble, and they have by invasive non-native species. Several Monitoring is needed to determine if requested Park Service funds to invasive non-native plant species are park plants are being affected by ozone; study the role of common in the power line right-of-way in a survey for foliar damage is scheduled prescribed burns in the park, one of the few remaining open for 2013. these control efforts. habitats in the park that supports species of concern such as the Georgia aster. Invasive non-native species are also the main threat to the riparian systems within the park. Already, these areas have been invaded by non-native Nepalese brown- top and Chinese privet. CHUCK BARGERON/UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA/BUGWOOD.ORG THE KINGS MOUNTAIN NATIONAL MILITARY PARK ASSESSMENT MARK CLIFTON

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The Centennial CULTURAL RESOURCES—LANDSCAPE Staff at Kings Mountain National Military Monument was RESTORATION IS A TOP PRIORITY Park are making great strides to protect the erected in 1880 to park’s cultural resources. Significant recent commemorate the 100th anniversary of Kings Mountain National Military Park scored projects, such as an archival assessment and the Battle of Kings an overall 81 out of 100 for the condition of its remote sensing archaeological surveys, have Mountain. cultural resources, which include archaeology, increased the ability of park staff to manage cultural landscapes, history, historic structures, and preserve important cultural landscapes, and the museum collection and archives. This historic structures, and museum and archival score indicates that the resources are in “good” collections. In addition, because of the signifi- condition. cance of the battle in the American Revolutionary War, much of the history of the Mountain in 1974 and 1995. These also inform battle and those who fought in it has been resource management at the park. thoroughly researched and documented. Even with the broad body of research avail- However, gaps in research and the need for able to park staff, there are still several gaps in preservation projects do exist. The park would research that would aid in preservation and greatly benefit from baseline archaeological interpretation of the park’s resources. Notably, research and historic structure documentation, the Howser and Morris Homesteads—the inventories of two of the cultural landscapes in former built in 1803 and the latter built around the park, additional storage space and staff to 1902—cannot be fully used as resources, nor protect and preserve museum and archival can their significances be determined, without collections, and continued support to restore cultural landscape reports to guide manage- the cultural landscape, historic viewsheds, and ment. In addition, the park’s administrative 13 lines of sight present during the battle. history, written in 1985, is out-of-date; updating this history through the present would allow ark HISTORY—MUCH RESEARCH HAS BEEN park staff to better understand what resource DONE; ADDITIONAL WORK WOULD work has already been done and to focus on Wayside exhibits SUPPLEMENT KNOWLEDGE BASE contemporary issues, notably the restoration along the park’s 1.5- There is an extensive body of research that work taking place on the battlefield cultural mile Battlefield Trail teach visitors about provides a thorough record of the Battle of landscape. In addition, the park has requested the historic battle Kings Mountain, including troop positions and Park Service funding to study the oral histories that took place there movements, battle background, results, and of Civilian Conservation Corps participants, 230 years ago. detailed descriptions of the landscape that helped make a Patriot victory possible, as well

as explanations of the battle’s significance in Kings Mountain National Military P American history. Recently, historians Bobby BRUCE JOHNSON Moss and Michael Scoggins coauthored two accounts of African-American participation on both sides of the battle at Kings Mountain, as well as various other battles in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. These books are titled African-American Patriots in the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution and African-American Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. Park staff use these and other available research materials in their efforts to interpret and preserve park resources. For example, Lyman C. Draper’s Kings Mountain and Its Heroes (first published in 1881), which discusses in great detail the Battle of Kings Mountain and its background and aftermath, is the primary resource for the park’s cultural landscape management and restoration plans. Historic resource studies, which provide historical overviews of a park and evaluations of its cultural resources, were completed at Kings whose work during the 1930s added greatly to to Patriot forces who were able to take aim at the ability of the park and its managers to inter- the silhouettes of the Loyalists perched on top. pret the battle. These studies would enhance the The lay of the land and the forests that cloaked ability of the park to interpret the history of the the slopes of the ridge upon which Loyalist battle’s commemoration. forces were camped were also key factors that The park does not employ a historian, so contributed to the Patriots’ victory in the battle. necessary historical research is conducted A cultural landscape report completed in through the Park Service’s Southeast Regional 2003 documents the three eras of significance Office or in conjunction with outside historians for the battlefield—the battle events, the as funds allow. Having a historian available to commemorative period, and the Park Service the park on a more regular basis would be development period—and provides treatment 14 helpful to maintain public interest in the battle, and management recommendations. Included the battlefield, and the historic structures within the landscape are the battlefield ridge, ark located in the park. A historian would conduct the surrounding historic roads, the archaeologi- ongoing research, providing new information cal sites, and the historic markers and monu- for interpretation and public programs, and be ments erected later to commemorate the battle. able to answer visitors’ questions in greater Park staff consider the re-establishment of the detail and on a wider array of historical topics battlefield’s historical landscape—a mature, than can be provided by interpretive signage or hardwood forest with interspersed Piedmont scripted programs. One way to provide this type prairie—as a top priority. The historical land- of expertise would be to hire a historian to serve scape was basically destroyed in 1930 when Kings Mountain and nearby parks with similar much of the area was cleared of trees to accom- interpretive themes (e.g., Cowpens National modate the 74,000 people who attended

Kings Mountain National Military P Battlefield). President Herbert Hoover’s speech at the sesqui- centennial battle commemoration. Subsequent CULTURAL LANDSCAPES— management strategies allowed the land to lay CONTROLLED BURNS HELP RESTORE fallow, and now much of the park is covered THE HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE with the thick undergrowth that is common in Cultural landscapes are places where people a successional landscape. have interacted with their surroundings, Cultural and natural resource managers work shaping them to meet their needs. They are also together to restore the natural setting that also places where the natural surroundings have represents the historic landscape present during influenced people’s lives and actions. There are the battle. Prescribed burns are among the three identified cultural landscapes at Kings primary tools resource managers are employing Mountain—the battlefield, the Howser to restore both the historic setting and views and Homestead, and the Morris Homestead. All the native plants and natural habitat that once three cultural landscapes are listed in the supported a diverse community of bird species. National Register of Historic Places as contribut- These burns also reduce the buildup of vegeta- ing features of the Kings Mountain National tion that could fuel wildfires. The park began Historic District. The battlefield cultural land- implementing prescribed burns in 2000. Recent scape—the land on which the battle was activities include two prescribed burns that were fought—is the most visible and most significant conducted in March 2008, covering a total of cultural resource at Kings Mountain. The battle- 429 acres on and around Battlefield Ridge. These field sits on a ridge above the surrounding controlled burns resulted in a more open under- countryside, which allowed a distinct advantage story similar to that which existed in the area during the late 18th century. Later that year, the Through the Park Service’s Southeast treated landscape helped protect the park’s other Regional Office, the park has access to a histori- cultural resources by preventing the spread of a cal architect who advises the park to ensure the fire that originated on a neighboring property. historic integrity of the structures on the cultural The park conducted four prescribed burns in landscape is maintained. The historical architect 2009 and has completed four in 2010 so far. visits the park as needed and was last at Kings Continued use of prescribed burns is key to Mountain in 2001, when the roof on the restoring the battlefield and removing excessive Howser House needed to be restored. vegetation. If funds for these activities decline, Urban encroachment along the park’s north the park will be forced to conduct fewer or and west borders threatens to destroy historic smaller burns each year. viewsheds. The views from the top of the ridge The park’s other identified landscapes are the are important resources that the park’s staff 15 Howser Homestead and the Morris Homestead. actively manage. They are critical to the visitor’s The former is a tract of land that was owned by understanding of how the surrounding forest ark stonemason Henry Howser, who built the main and landscape helped the Patriots surround and home on the property in 1803. The stone house attack Ferguson’s troops, who thought they had and its associated buildings are unusual exam- the advantage because of their position on ples of Pennsylvanian-German architecture in higher ground. For more information on adja- the Carolina backcountry. The Morris cent land concerns, see “Historical and Homestead was built around 1902. Neither Contemporary Land Use” on page 24. landscape has been comprehensively docu- mented in a cultural landscape report and the structures have no up-to-date historic structure

reports, both of which would provide preserva- Kings Mountain National Military P tion and treatment options and management strategies for these sites. At this time, there is little guidance for their preservation or maintenance.

The park has been conducting prescribed burns since 2000 to help restore both the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE historical and the natural landscape. HISTORIC STRUCTURES—FUNDS Patrick Ferguson were thought to have fallen NEEDED FOR REPORTS ON HISTORIC during battle; a marker commemorating STRUCTURES AND MAINTENANCE President Hoover’s visit to the battlefield; a PROJECTS marker commemorating Colonel Asbury There are 29 historic structures listed on the Coward, who established the Kings Mountain National Park Service’s List of Classified Centennial Association; and markers commem- Structures for Kings Mountain National Military orating Colonel Frederick Hambright and Park. This database includes all the prehistoric Lieutenant Colonel James Hawthorne, both and historic structures managed as cultural Patriot commanders during the battle. Such resources in each park unit. Most of the 29 structures are significant because they typify the structures relate to the battle, its commemora- war commemorative architecture and style of 16 tion, or early park development. The only the late 19th and early 20th centuries; they are historic structure in the park remaining from used to interpret the significance of the Battle of ark the time of the battle is the Colonial Road, Kings Mountain in the commemorative period. which was the road the armies used to reach Additional historic structures relate to the Kings Mountain prior to the battle. National Park Service development of the park Historic structures commemorating the and Civilian Conservation Corps work in the battle and its participants include the park in the 1930s: the historic Yorkville- Centennial Monument erected to commemo- Shelbyville Road, redeveloped in 1938 as a fire The Park Service rate the 100th anniversary of the battle and the road; the Main Park Road; stone rubble swales Headquarters building U.S. Monument erected in 1909. Additional along the road; the superintendent’s residence, at Kings Mountain commemorative structures include but are not now used as offices; the administration build- was built in 1940–41 in the Colonial Revival limited to markers indicating the locations ing; the parking lot at the park’s headquarters;

Kings Mountain National Military P architectural style. where Major William Chronicle and Major the stone headwalls along the Main Park Road; and the administration building flagstaff. The structures are prime examples of the Colonial Revival style of architecture the National Park Service used for buildings in the East because the rustic style, preferred in the West, did not NATIONAL PARK SERVICE blend well into the cultural landscapes of Eastern parks. Kings Mountain’s remaining historic struc- tures are not directly related to the battle, its commemoration, or the development of the park. These include those structures within the Howser Homestead: the Howser House, the Howser Cemetery headstones, the Howser Road, and the Howser Terraces; as well as those structures that are part of the Morris Homestead: the Morris House, the Morris Shed, and the Gordon Cemetery headstones. As previ- ously mentioned, Henry Howser constructed the Howser House in 1803, employing a unique Pennsylvanian-German style that is distinctly different from the typical Carolina backcountry architecture of the 19th century. The Howser House is an exceptional example of this type of KAT BYERLY architecture. In 1977 the Park Service restored the house to its appearance as recorded in 1900 in order to protect its historic significance and integrity. Park staff use the site periodically to host interpretive programs and living history demonstrations. The Morris House was built around 1902 by the Morris family, who were tenant farmers on the Howser property. It was constructed from the chimney remains of a house that burned 17 there in 1900. Little else is currently known about the history of the property, but according ark to the park’s 1995 historic resource study, the architecture represents the typical postbellum Carolina style and the transition from antebel- lum subsistence farming to “postwar cash crop and absentee land ownership.” It is the only example of such a style and transition inside Kings Mountain National Park. This historic structure is not interpreted; it is used as a resi- dence for park staff.

Historic structure reports provide guidance Kings Mountain National Military P for the treatment and use of historic structures. Though the park includes 29 historic structures, just one historic structure report—for the Howser House—has been completed at Kings Mountain. It was done in 1974 and is now outdated due to restoration of the house in 1977. Due to this lack of baseline research, there is no formal guidance for the preservation and interpretation of historic structures. Park est in the site, which is currently low. Without a This stone marks the staff and volunteers provide occasional tours of historic furnishings report, up-to-date historic gravesite of Major Patrick Ferguson the Howser House and use it during periodic structure report, or cultural landscape report, (promoted posthu- living history demonstrations, but there is little the staff at Kings Mountain cannot take full mously to Lieutenant guidance to extend these activities, and the advantage of this unique historic resource. Colonel). house remains an underutilized resource. Park Staff from the Park Service’s Southeast staff have sought funding for a historic furnish- Regional Office inspect historic structures about ings report with no success. Such a report would every other year, taking note of preventative and establish a framework for furnishing the repair needs, and they conduct cyclical cleaning Howser House as authentically as possible, and maintenance of historic structures. The which would greatly improve the park staff’s park’s on-site maintenance staff manages day- ability to interpret the house. More accurate to-day preservation of historic structures and is representation could also increase visitor inter- trained to conduct a majority of maintenance Patriot and Loyalist forces clashed at the Battle of Kings Mountain, fighting along this 60-foot- NATIONAL PARK SERVICE high ridge at the southern end of the Kings Mountain Range. Two large monuments, the Centennial Monument (lower left) and the United 18 States Monument (upper right), commemorate the ark battle.

Kings Mountain National Military P projects, which often consist of repair work. In ARCHAEOLOGY—ARCHAEOLOGICAL addition, several staff members have training in OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT NEEDED historic preservation, and the park’s facility In addition to cultural landscapes and historic manager has training in historic masonry. structures, Kings Mountain also includes signif- While Kings Mountain does not have a icant archaeological sites. The park’s largest, historical architect on staff to conduct major most visible, and most visited archaeological historic preservation projects, one from the site is the battlefield. The site is 600 yards long, regional office travels to the park as needed. ranges from 60 to 120 yards wide, and marks Historic preservation specialists are also some- the location of a majority of the fighting during times hired on a contract basis. Though the park the Battle of Kings Mountain. Park staff use has access to a historical architect and other archaeological surveys to help re-create the historic preservation staff through the regional battlefield scene and interpret it for visitors. In office, structures still suffer from more than $2.7 the most recent surveys of this area in 1999 and million in deferred maintenance costs. These 2000, archaeologists found five clusters of arti- projects include re-pointing stone CCC struc- facts, such as fired and unfired shot, indicating tures, installing fire suppression systems, repair- that while many of the historical accounts of the ing the floor in the Morris House, and repairing battle accurately portray troop positions and the headstones in the Howser Cemetery. Each movements, the fighting actually extended project requires a maintenance crew with differ- beyond what park staff and historians previ- ent specialized skills in order to preserve the ously thought. An extensive report on these historic integrity of these sites, and funds are excavations was published in 2006. This new needed to support such experts and projects. information has been incorporated into ranger- led talks, but funds are needed to update potentially significant historic sites as well as brochures and wayside exhibits. prehistoric sites that could inform park staff Twenty other archaeological sites have been about possible American Indian use of the area. located in the park, one of which is the Howser The need for such research was formally identi- House. Including agricultural land and fied in the Southeast Archeological Center’s outbuildings, the Howser House grounds have Regionwide Archeological Survey Plan, which was been excavated numerous times, largely for published in 1996 and outlines several future compliance projects in the 1970s. While only 20 plans for archaeological investigations at Kings percent of the park has been systematically Mountain. Although Park Service funds for an surveyed for archaeological sites, park staff archaeological overview and assessment for adhere to compliance regulations and take all Kings Mountain were requested in 1996, the precautions to ensure that significant archaeo- project has not yet been funded. In addition to 19 logical resources are not damaged during park an archaeological overview and assessment, the projects. For example, archaeological staff from Regionwide Archeological Survey Plan calls for a ark the Park Service’s Southeast Archeological comprehensive historic archaeology survey, Center conduct surface surveys and shovel tests including a survey of any possible prehistoric to determine if activities related to the park’s fire sites as identified by surface collections, and a management program (e.g., creation of fire total survey of archaeological sites. breaks before prescribed burns) will affect To best serve archaeological sites that have archaeological resources. Many of the park’s already been identified, the park needs to docu- other archaeological sites, including homesites, ment them. At this time, just seven sites have stills, and dumps dating to the 19th and early treatment recommendations and only nine 20th centuries, were discovered during these have been located using Global Positioning

compliance activities. Several prehistoric arti- System coordinates. Most sites are only known Kings Mountain National Military P facts were also found. through the location of visible site features and Despite previous surveys and ongoing have little documentation. Even the Howser compliance work, there are still large gaps in the House, which has been extensively excavated, archaeological record of Kings Mountain. For lacks a detailed site map and good survey example, the graves of Major Chronicle and records. those men reburied with him during commem- Kings Mountain does not employ any oration activities in 1815 have never been archaeological staff; instead, the park relies on located, despite several attempts in the 1970s partnerships with the Park Service’s Southeast and again in 1999. The Colonial Road has never Archeological Center based in Tallahassee, been systematically surveyed or studied and Florida, or the University of South Carolina at might contain sites such as the hitching posts Columbia for their archaeological needs. used by the Patriots en route to the battle. It is Archaeologists from the Southeast also important to determine the location of a Archeological Center have traveled to the park mass burial site of Loyalist soldiers. Numerous about once each year since the park imple- archaeological sites not related to the battle or mented a fire-management program in 2000. colonial life (e.g., moonshine stills and 19th- Though they are readily available to complete century home sites) could also be interesting to compliance projects, none have been available survey and study. In addition, there is little to aid in interpreting the park’s archaeological information on the prehistoric use of the area. sites or to complete an archaeological overview An archaeological overview and assessment and assessment. could help fill these gaps and locate other After renovations to the visitor center and museum in 2005, MARK CLIFTON park staff deemed it was safe to display its original Ferguson Rifle, which had previously been stolen and returned years later.

20 ark

Kings Mountain National Military P MUSEUM COLLECTION AND breech-loading rifle to be used by a regular army ARCHIVES—RENOVATED MUSEUM unit; it could be reloaded much faster than the PROVIDES SECURE PLACE TO DISPLAY then-standard muzzle-loading weapons, and a ARTIFACTS skilled user could fire it several times in a Buttons, fired and unfired shot, weaponry, minute. While there is no evidence that such a clothing, furnishings relating to the Howser weapon was used during the Battle of Kings House, prehistoric objects such as a chert point Mountain, this extremely rare weapon exempli- and various types of debitage (i.e., the reduction fies a historic development in 18th-century waste created during the manufacturing of stone weaponry. The story of the weapon and its place tools), and much more comprise Kings at the park is a remarkable one: In 1964, the Mountain National Military Park’s museum weapon was stolen from a park display. In 1992, collection of more than 5,300 objects. The the rifle was recovered and returned to the park. archives are even more extensive with an excess Because of inadequate security, park staff were of 37,700 items, including park records and unwilling to display it for fear of another theft. documents relating to the battle, such as an The weapon sat in storage until 2005, when original copy of Lyman Draper’s 1881 book renovations to the museum and visitor center, Kings Mountain and Its Heroes. including new climate-control, fire-suppression, One of the highest profile museum items and security systems, provided the necessary held by the park is an original Ferguson Rifle, protection to safely display this valuable artifact. the synthesis of a traditional 18th-century rifle Other historical items the park would like to and a British musket that was developed by acquire for its museum collection include Major Ferguson. The Ferguson Rifle was the first Ferguson’s personal military whistle—used at the battle and since lost to collectors, micro- not currently on display. The park has requested films of Cornwallis’s papers, and the original but not yet received Park Service funds to film of President Hoover’s historic speech in address this need. Another way to meet this 1930. The Tennessee State Museum holds many need would be through a facility that would artifacts from the battle, though not the items store museum collection items from several just listed; the museum donated some artifacts parks. This facility could be dedicated to collec- to the park following the 2005 renovation, and tions pertaining to the American Revolutionary park staff would like to obtain more of their War and the surrounding period themes (such battle-related items. as 18th- and 19th-century backcountry Through a project in 1999 with the lifestyles). This idea is being discussed by the University of South Carolina, the park’s then staffs of Kings Mountain and other parks, entire archival collection held at that time was though there are no funding requests or formal 21 organized, properly preserved in an acid-free plans for such a facility at this time. environment, and cataloged. Today, just 5 An interpretive ranger acts as the park’s ark percent of the archives have not been cataloged. curator and is trained in the Park Service’s The uncataloged items were acquired after the collections cataloging database and in inte- 1999 project. The only items from the park’s grated pest management. The park has museum collection not yet cataloged are a requested operating funds to hire a museum number of archaeological artifacts. Each year, technician to help manage and catalog the the park makes progress cataloging the remain- collections. For some of its more extensive proj- ing archives and artifacts. ects the park contracts outside experts, such as Even though the park renovated its museum those at the University of South Carolina and and visitor center in 2005, there is still not other institutions. For example, experts from

enough curatorial and storage space. According Texas A&M University are nearly finished treat- Kings Mountain National Military P to the park’s collection storage plan, another ing and preserving 75 at-risk museum objects, 500 square feet or more of storage space are such as those that have in the past been inap- needed to better accommodate collection items propriately displayed or stored.

Visitor center exhibits educate the public about the Battle of Kings Mountain and its historical context. JAMES D. NATIONS/NPCA ETHNOGRAPHY—RESEARCH NEEDED people. Even though traditionally associated TO IDENTIFY GROUPS OF PEOPLE groups of people have not been formally identi- WITH TRADITIONAL ASSOCIATIONS TO fied, park staff invite members of the Catawba PARK RESOURCES Nation, whose reservation is located along the Kings Mountain does not maintain an active North Carolina-South Carolina border, to ethnography program nor has it completed an various educational and interpretive programs ethnographic overview and assessment, a base- (e.g., living history demonstrations conducted line report that analyzes information on known by volunteers). While members of the Catawba ethnographic resources and the groups of Nation do participate in these demonstrations, people with traditional connections to those indigenous people have not expressed any other resources. This lack of ethnographic research is interest in the park. 22 largely due to the fact that the land inside the In addition to examining relationships park was considered to be neutral territory between park resources and American Indians, ark between the Cherokee and the Catawba prior to Park Service guidelines encourage acknowledg- and at the time of the Battle of Kings Mountain. ment of African-American history and experi- While it is thought that neither tribe used the ence within national parks. Staff at Kings area regularly, the Colonial Road supposedly Mountain are aware that the park could followed the route of an older Cherokee trail. contain resources important to African Ethnographic research might help develop a Americans, and in 2004 and 2005, researchers greater understanding of the uses of “neutral from outside the Park Service conducted a territory” and the role of travel corridors in massive project to identify and study the American Indian life prior to and during the African-American participants in the battles of colonial era. the Southern Campaign of the American

Kings Mountain National Military P The only prehistoric artifacts found inside Revolutionary War. Revolutionary War scholar the park include a small handful of lithic Dr. Bobby Moss and local historian Michael debitage and a partial chert point that were Scoggins published two volumes on this topic. found during compliance projects. However, Although a number of African Americans according to staff from the Park Service’s participated in the battle, on both sides, park Southeast Regional Office, the lack of known staff do not know if there is any contemporary prehistoric and American Indian sites within African-American interest in the park. the boundaries of Kings Mountain does not Another possible area of study for an ethnog- indicate that there was no American Indian raphy program at Kings Mountain relates to presence, but rather that there has not been more recent cultural associations with the park. enough research and data to locate sites. In fact, Park staff have submitted Park Service funding one of the only areas lacking in formal research requests to conduct oral histories of Civilian or interpretation, as identified by park and Conservation Corps (CCC) participants who regional staff, is the pre-settlement history of the worked inside the park and the adjacent Kings area (the period prior to European and Euro- Mountain State Park. Collecting these inter- American settlement). Park staff have requested views is urgent as fewer and fewer CCC partici- project funding for such research. pants remain to share their experiences. Without baseline data on the possible American Indian or prehistoric significance of the park, staff cannot adequately address the preservation of sites or the cultivation of rela- tionships with potential traditionally associated KAT BYERLY

23 ark Kings Mountain National Military P

NATURAL RESOURCES—PARK species have gained a foothold in many parts of The park is home to FOCUSES ON RESTORING the park. Fire and the mechanical removal of 42 reptile and amphibian species, HISTORICAL SPECIES AND BATTLING vegetation are primary tools the park uses to including this green INVASIVE ONES restore the landscape to its historical condition. anole. Additional natural resources staff are needed to NPCA’s assessment rated the overall condition manage non-native plant eradication efforts, of natural resources at Kings Mountain National spearhead GIS projects, and assist with other Military Park a 78 out of 100, which ranks park duties. The park has requested funds to support resources in “fair” condition. The park is two positions. working to reverse changes to the vegetation that have occurred due to past land-clearing activities, fire suppression, and forest pests and diseases. Different plant species have become dominant in the landscape when compared to historic vegetation patterns, while invasive Virtually the entire park was cleared of vegetation at some MARK CLIFTON point during the past 230 years. This area was cleared to accommodate those who attended President Hoover’s speech in 1930. Trees have grown back, but the forest composi- tion is different from 24 what it was at the time of the battle. ark

Kings Mountain National Military P HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY of the battle. In sum, virtually the entire park LAND USE—ADJACENT STATE PARK has been cleared of vegetation at some point PROVIDES HABITAT CONTINUITY during the past 230 years. The effects this clear- When the Battle of Kings Mountain was fought, ing had on the natural vegetation, as well as the the battlefield and surrounding countryside effects of subsequent fire suppression, are consisted of open forests and meadows with discussed in the following section titled “Park some scattered homesteads. After the war Ecosystems.” ended, the land was used for homesteads, Kings Mountain State Park borders Kings grazing, logging, and agricultural crops such as Mountain National Military Park to the south corn and cotton. There are still some terraces and east, while agricultural lands, industry visible within the park as well as cultural devoted to mineral extraction and power gener- resources such as the Howser House and ation, and minor urban development border Homestead, but agriculture was not commer- the national military park on the north and cially viable due to shallow soils, poor fertility, west. Kings Mountain State Park is managed as steep hillsides, and unsustainable farming prac- a natural recreation area for hikers, horseback tices. Even so, some small farms and timber riders, mountain bikers, and those who enjoy operations continued in the area until Kings fishing and canoeing. Despite different manage- Mountain National Military Park was created in ment objectives between the state and national 1931. Prior to the park’s creation, the battlefield parks, the two areas combined represent rela- was cleared of vegetation in 1930 to accommo- tively contiguous Piedmont habitat. date those who attended President Hoover’s Urban development along the park’s western speech commemorating the 150th anniversary and northern boundaries in Cherokee County is

scattered but increasing, while development in toring landscape dynamics (e.g., land use data, York County to the east is more concentrated land cover data, and population growth statis- but somewhat separated from Kings Mountain tics) for parks within its Cumberland Piedmont National Military Park due to buffering by Kings Network, a subset of regional parks that Mountain State Park. According to the U.S. includes Kings Mountain. This work, which is in Census Bureau, the total population of the early stages, will provide important infor- Cherokee County grew 2.6 percent from 2000 mation about how the park fits within the larger to 2006 while the total population of York landscape. County grew 20.9 percent from 2000 to 2006. Although housing and developed infrastructure PARK ECOSYSTEMS—LANDSCAPES adjacent to the park are currently limited, popu- DIFFER FROM HISTORICAL SETTING lation growth and associated development are Kings Mountain National Military Park includes 25 real threats on the horizon. Increased develop- ecosystems typical of the western Piedmont, a ment associated with the Charlotte, North semi-open prairie with sections of mixed hard- ark Carolina, metropolitan area and the Greenville wood forest stretching from the Atlantic Coastal and Spartanburg, South Carolina, areas, all Plain to the Appalachian Mountains. In general, within an hour’s drive of the park, has led to the park is predominantly forest and woodland, increased numbers of small-acreage holdings in with riparian areas and some open areas. the region and associated loss of natural vegeta- The park’s forests differ from those that were tion. Continued regional growth is likely, and present during the Battle of Kings Mountain. contact with the urban interface along the Clearing land for agriculture, cutting trees to northern and western boundaries will present supply lumber, widespread tree death caused challenges. by introduced pests and diseases (e.g., pine

Industrial development has increased in the beetles, chestnut blight, and Dutch elm Kings Mountain National Military P region as populations have grown. There are disease), and fire suppression greatly altered several gas-fired power plants and nuclear the forest structure within and around Kings energy generation facilities located within an Mountain, resulting in the loss of mature hard- hour’s drive of the park. During the last five wood forests and changes in forest composi- years Duke Energy constructed a gas turbine tion. Loss of the American chestnut (Castanea plant a few miles from the park. These facilities dentata) and decline of the American elm could potentially affect air quality in the park; (Ulmus americana) opened up spaces in the however, no direct measurements have been forest canopy, allowing other species, such as made about the effects of these facilities on the white oak (Quercus alba), tuliptree (Liriodendron park. There is a kyanite extraction facility about tulipifera), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), black 20 miles southwest of the park in Cherokee oak (Quercus velutina), and scarlet oak (Quercus County. This mineral is used in the manufacture coccinea), to dominate the forest canopy. of ceramics, electronics, and other products. No Suppression of fire has allowed fire-intolerant direct impacts on park resources from the species to proliferate, and pines have declined mining operation have been assessed or recog- due to pine beetles and the trees’ inability to nized to date. tolerate shade from other canopy species. The park’s vegetation management plan Composition of the forest understory commu- outlines the need for research on how the nities has shifted mainly due to denser forest impacts of increasing population will affect the canopies that allow less light to penetrate the park’s ecosystem and interpretive capabilities. understory. The decrease in light has caused The Park Service has begun assessing and moni- native herbaceous plants to decline and instead KINGS MOUNTAIN’S “VITAL SIGNS” WILL BE has favored the growth of shade-tolerant inva- sive non-native species. Essentially, forests and MONITORED woodlands in the park today are comprised of As part of the Centennial Challenge (a Park Service initiative to a higher percentage of oaks (Quercus spp.), bring funds to parks in time for the centennial anniversary of the shade-tolerant trees, species such as red maple organization in 2016), and through participation in the Park (Acer rubrum) and sourwood (Oxydendron Service’s Inventory and Monitoring Network, Kings Mountain arboretum), and woody shrubs such as moun- National Military Park is working on the last phase of a three- tain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) than historically. phase “Vital Signs” ecological monitoring plan. Significant Studies indicate that the increased vegetation natural resources have been identified (phase 1), vital signs that density in forests and understory, and the result- represent or have a bearing on resource health have been ing loss of open areas, has reduced available 26 selected (phase 2), and a protocol is being implemented for habitat for some native fauna. Birds that prefer monitoring the selected vital signs (phase 3). Vital signs selected open oak woodland savannah, such as the ark for active monitoring at Kings Mountain are air and climate eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) and horned (ozone and ozone impact), water (water quality and quantity), lark (Eremophila alpestris), are found on open biological integrity (invasive plants early detection, forest pests, lands surrounding the park, but they have low vegetation communities, plant species of concern), and land- documented numbers within the park. scapes (adjacent land use). Open areas within the park, such as old agri- cultural fields, have been dominated by invasive non-native species, such as bromes (Bromus japonicus and B. secalinus), yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalus), and green bristlegrass (Setaria viridis), at the expense of native plants.

Kings Mountain National Military P The park’s main natural resource goal is to restore the pine-oak savannah habitats thought to be dominant during the Battle of Kings Mountain. As discussed in “Cultural Landscapes” on page 14, prescribed burns are one tool resource managers are using to help MARIA KUROSHCHEPOVA/BIGSTOCK.COM achieve this goal. Currently, the park’s pine populations are recovering from recent pine beetle outbreaks. Park staff monitor the situa- tion and mechanically remove infested trees. Riparian systems within the park remain relatively unaltered by past land uses. All drainages, except for Kings Creek, originate within the park, reducing the potential for pollution and degradation. The main threat to the riparian systems within the park is invasive vegetation. Additional threats include potential sedimentation resulting from management activities such as mechanical thinning and prescribed burns, though the park takes steps to

Water quality and quantity at Kings Mountain will be periodically prevent sediment from entering waterways. measured and recorded as part of the Vital Signs monitoring program. Park staff believe that Japanese honey- suckle, along with 10 other invasive non- native plant species, poses a severe threat to native ecosystems. All 11 species are able to invade ecosystems and outcompete native species. CHUCK BARGERON/UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA/BUGWOOD.ORG 27 ark

NON-NATIVE PLANTS—INVASIVE SPECIES park’s forests, woodlands, open areas, and ripar- Kings Mountain National Military P THREATEN RARE NATIVE PLANTS ian areas. These invasions are a concern because Agriculture, timbering, construction, and other native plants—including some species of land-clearing activities have affected the lands concern—could be eliminated from park within Kings Mountain National Military Park ecosystems. Species of concern are those species over the past few centuries. These disturbances that might be in need of some kind of conserva- have altered the park’s ecosystems and made tion action, such as monitoring or possible them more vulnerable to invasion by non-native listing as threatened or endangered, often due plant species. In addition, a large percentage of to their rarity or declining status. Non-native the non-native plants that inhabit the park were species such as tree of heaven (Ailanthus introduced as ornamentals on many of the old altissima), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), farmsteads. According to a 2005 survey by the princesstree (Paulownia tomentosa), Chinese nonprofit organization NatureServe, there are 58 lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), and several others non-native vascular plant species found in the are common in the power line right-of-way in park. The Park Service has identified 11 of these the park, one of the few remaining open habi- as posing severe threats due to their ability to tats in the park that supports species of concern invade ecosystems and outcompete native such as the Georgia aster (Aster georgianus) and species. These include Japanese honeysuckle smooth sunflower (Helianthus laevigatus). (Lonicera japonica), Nepalese browntop Unfortunately, the disturbances that make these (Microstegium vimineum), Chinese privet open areas suitable for the aster and sunflower (Ligustrum sinense), and eight others. also make the areas vulnerable to invasive non- Non-native plants have already invaded the native species that compete with native plants. RECENT INVENTORIES DOCUMENT PARK WILDLIFE AND PLANTS

According to inventories completed to date highback chub (Hybopsis hypsinotus), through the Park Service’s Inventory and greenfin shiner (Cyprinella chloristia), Monitoring Program, Kings Mountain Carolina darter (Etheostoma collis), National Military Park hosts 42 amphibian seagreen darter (Etheostoma thalassinum), and reptile, 19 fish, 26 mammal (including and Carolina fantail darter (Etheostoma bat), 508 vascular plant (58 are non-native), flabellare)—are endemic to the southern and more than 119 bird species. One Atlantic Slope. The Atlantic Slope is the part species, the wild turkey (Meleagris of the country east of the Appalachian gallopavo), was reintroduced to the park in Mountains where rivers drain east instead of 28 the 1980s through a cooperative effort draining west toward the Mississippi River. between the park and the South Carolina The park does not have any federally ark Department of Natural Resources. The park listed threatened or endangered species, would like to reintroduce the bobwhite quail but a number of plants are South Carolina (Colinus virginianus) to supplement individu- species of concern. These include creeping als that are returning to the park due to spike rush, Georgia aster, smooth sunflower, habitat improvements brought about by the eastern turkeybeard (Xerophyllum asphode- park’s prescribed burns. Park staff have loides), and several others. The park is requested Park Service funds for this reintro- seeking funds to help restore Georgia aster duction project. and has been working with the North Of the 19 fish species documented in the Carolina Botanical Garden to collect aster park, six are priority conservation species for seeds. Park staff also continually evaluate

Kings Mountain National Military P South Carolina. Five of the priority conserva- new potential projects that could help tion species documented within the park— increase populations of rare plants.

The park is seeking funds to help restore

the rare Georgia KAT BYERLY aster, and staff have been working with the North Carolina Botanical Garden to collect seeds from the plant.

Several of the park’s other plant species of of non-native plants, pests, and diseases—to concern, such as creeping spike rush (Eleocharis park ecosystems. palustris) and joe-pye weed (Eupatorium fistulo- The park’s fire monitoring plan indicates that sum), are found in riparian areas. Non-native if invasive non-native species were no longer species, including Nepalese browntop and present in the park, it is possible that the park’s Chinese privet, have invaded riparian areas. forests and woodlands could naturally return to These invasive species can quickly take over historical conditions. areas and eliminate native vegetation. The park’s 2005 vascular plant survey indicates that AIR QUALITY—SURVEYS NEEDED TO non-native species are the greatest future threat DETERMINE IF OZONE IS HARMING to ecological integrity within the park. PARK PLANTS The park’s staff has been eliminating heavy Air quality at Kings Mountain National Military 29 concentrations of various invasive non-native Park is estimated using data from monitoring species since the 1990s and is now focusing on stations located throughout the region, some as ark maintenance treatments and elimination of little as nine miles from the park and some as other invasive plants, especially in critical habi- far as 90 miles from the park. National tats. Non-native plant management teams from Atmospheric Deposition Program/National the Park Service’s Southeast Region occasionally Trends Network stations monitor the wet depo- assist park staff with eradication efforts, and the sition and concentration levels of sulfates, park hires temporary seasonal help during the nitrates, and ammonium in rainwater. One of summer as well. The park continues to seek base the monitoring stations closest to the park funding to hire two natural resource staff who shows a decrease in sulfates, but no trend for would spend a large part of their time on non- nitrates or ammonium. The Clean Air Status

native plant eradication. Additionally, park staff and Trends Network, which monitors dry depo- Kings Mountain National Military P are attempting to create a geographic informa- sition of sulfur and nitrogen, has two monitor- tion systems (GIS) database of all known popu- ing stations in the vicinity of the park: One is lations of invasive plants. about 75 miles northwest of the park and the The park’s 2006 vegetation management other is 90 miles east of the park. Data from plan identifies research needs related to invasive these two stations indicate no trends in dry species control. These include the need to deposition of sulfur or nitrogen. However, an explore biological controls for non-native analysis of more recent data is needed to better plants and insects. Cooperative arrangements evaluate current air quality at the park. with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Ozone is monitored in York County, South Agricultural Research Service, Clemson Carolina, nine miles southeast of the park, University’s Integrated Pest Management and at Cowpens National Battlefield, about Program, or other agencies and programs dedi- 22 miles west of the park. Readings from these cated to alternatives to chemical control could stations indicate that ozone levels are high be an effective way to pursue biological control enough to cause cumulative foliar injury to solutions for non-native plants and insects. If vegetation within Kings Mountain National pursued, funding for research and subsequent Park. Staff from the Park Service’s Inventory control program implementation will be and Monitoring Network plan to survey the needed. park in 2013 for foliar damage due to ozone. The vegetation management plan also high- Ozone and ozone impact have been selected lights the need to develop risk analysis tools to as parameters to be monitored through the evaluate potential threats—including the spread network’s Vital Signs program. Information on visibility in the region is not available at WATER QUALITY—RESEARCH WILL this time. ADDRESS SOME DATA GAPS There are several gas-fired power plants and Surface water, wetlands, and groundwater nuclear energy generation facilities located comprise the hydrologic resources of Kings within an hour’s drive of the park. One gas Mountain National Military Park. Surface water turbine plant is just a few miles from the park. sources include multiple seeps and five small Kings Creek runs along part of the These facilities may potentially affect air quality drainages: Dellingham Branch, Stonehouse park’s northwest in the park; however, no direct measurements Branch, Long Branch, Garner Branch, and Kings boundary. have been made about the effects of these facil- Creek. All drainages except for Kings Creek orig- Researchers are ities on the park. inate within the park. Kings Creek comprises currently collecting about 0.6 miles of the park’s northwest bound- 30 water-quality data in all of the park’s major ary. More than 100 small wetlands, each smaller drainages. than about a third of an acre, are found within ark the park and are fed through groundwater discharge. Water-quality monitoring has been completed intermittently throughout the last 35 years within the park, and until recently, no records or measurements were made consis- tently. Water-quality assessments are currently being conducted in the park on all major drainages. Basic parameters being recorded include temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved

Kings Mountain National Military P oxygen, and fecal coliform counts. Researchers have identified data gaps that need to be addressed to fully assess water quality. Recommendations for additional monitoring include stream chemistry analysis for assessing the effects of atmospheric deposition, adjacent land uses, and management activities. As part of the Park Service’s Natural Resource Challenge and the Inventory and Monitoring Network’s Vital Signs monitoring program, limited param- eters of water quality (e.g., temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen) are scheduled to be recorded consistently into the future. Based on studies that have been conducted to date, water quality within the park is gener- ally good to pristine, suffering very few impacts from anthropogenic disturbances. All but one of the drainages originate within the park. Park staff monitor upstream activities and take precautions when conducting management projects within the park itself to ensure water quality remains good. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE KAT BYERLY

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STEWARDSHIP CAPACITY cultural landscape reports, historic structure Ferguson led Loyalist reports, and a historic furnishings report for the forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain. He FUNDING AND STAFFING—MONEY FOR Howser House and Homestead; and an ethno- perished during the RESOURCE REPORTS AND STUDIES graphic overview and assessment. fighting and is buried NEEDED In addition to funds for cultural resource at the park. For fiscal year 2010, Kings Mountain National reports and studies, the park would benefit Military Park has an operational budget of from funds to support additional storage space about $1.17 million. Additional funds are to house portions of its museum collection. needed to support numerous research projects, Another potential solution to this need would reports, and resource management activities. A be a facility to store collections from Kings variety of cultural resource reports and studies Mountain and nearby parks pertaining to the are needed to determine the extent and signifi- American Revolutionary War and related cance of archaeological resources and historic themes. No plans are yet under way for such a structures. These include but are not limited to facility. an archaeological overview and assessment; To bolster natural resource protection and Volunteers dressed as Loyalist soldiers stand before Ferguson’s gravesite. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

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Kings Mountain National Military P management, the park has a list of projects yet Battlefield) could be one way to provide this to receive funding. These include projects to needed expertise. For natural resources, the park restore oak savannas, reintroduce American has requested funds to hire two staff positions. chestnut trees, reintroduce bobwhite quail, eval- One would focus on non-native plant manage- uate the role of prescribed burns in controlling ment and the other on GIS as well as other non-native species, and many more. duties such as non-native plant eradication. In early 2009, through the National Park Service Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $26,000 PLANNING—PRIMARY PLANS UNDER WAY was earmarked for Kings Mountain National Kings Mountain National Military Park is in the Military Park to fund replacement of garage bay process of developing a new general manage- doors and replace tile flooring in the library ment plan and a long-range interpretive plan to conference building, a historic park facility. replace outdated plans. The new plans, which The park has requested funds to hire a will be completed in 2011 or early 2012, will put museum technician to help catalog and manage the park in position to develop management the collections, which include more than 5,300 and preservation strategies for the Howser museum objects and more than 37,700 archival House, management strategies for invasive items. In addition, having a historian available species and the current successional landscape, to the park on a more regular basis would help and management strategies for prospective maintain public interest in the battle, the park, interpretive themes not currently covered by the and its resources. Hiring a historian to serve park. Beginning in 1999, the park embarked on Kings Mountain and nearby parks with similar a series of projects to improve park resources, interpretive themes (e.g., Cowpens National from intensive archaeological surveys to a massive archival assessment to the renovation ment plan addresses restoring vegetation of the museum and visitor center. The comple- present during the battle, monitoring and tion of the general management plan and long- removing invasive plant species, and developing range interpretive plan will allow park staff to partnerships with outside institutions (e.g., York take full advantage of the new facilities and County branch of the Clemson University interpretive possibilities. Cooperative Extension) to assist with park proj- Two recent plans for fire management ects and developing integrated invasive species (2005) and vegetation management (2006) are control efforts. largely aimed at restoring the park’s ecosystems to the conditions they were in during the Battle RESOURCE EDUCATION— of Kings Mountain. The park, with assistance INTERPRETATION ENRICHES VISITOR from a fire management crew based at Great EXPERIENCE 33 Smoky Mountains National Park, has been Interpretation is key for visitors to have the conducting prescribed burns since 2000. These most meaningful experience possible at Kings ark burns are intended to alleviate wildfire pres- Mountain National Military Park. Without sures caused by a buildup of vegetation, thereby interpretation, visitors might miss parts of the reducing threats to historic structures, and to re- crucial story that played out on the landscape create the historic views, lines of sight, and during that pivotal battle on October 7, 1780. general cultural landscape that made the Patriot The park’s four rangers, a supervisory ranger, victory possible. and various volunteers provide interpretive The park’s vegetation management plan programs and tours. The park’s friends group, provides an overview of the existing natural the Kings Mountain Brigade of Friends, and resources within the park and states the their reenactment counterpart, the Backcountry

preferred actions the park may take to better Militia, provide living history demonstrations Kings Mountain National Military P manage its natural resources, while ensuring regularly throughout the summer and on week- management actions complement the park’s ends in the spring and fall as volunteer capacity cultural significance. The vegetation manage- allows. A 1.5-mile interpretive trail that winds

The Backcountry Militia, the park’s volunteer reenact- ment group, brings the park’s history to NATIONAL PARK SERVICE life through programs during the summer and on weekends in the spring and fall. Participants in the park’s Junior Ranger program earn a badge and take an oath after completing NATIONAL PARK SERVICE an activity booklet.

34 ark

Kings Mountain National Military P through the battlefield includes about 20 the British before clashing at Kings Mountain. wayside exhibits that explain both the logistics The reenactment begins the last week in of the battle as well as its significance; various September and concludes with living history monuments and markers indicate the signifi- and weapons demonstrations on October 7 at cance of the battle, its participants, and its Kings Mountain. commemorators; the park offers a cell phone Aside from interpreting the Battle of Kings tour (“On-Cell”) that visitors can dial into and Mountain, the Revolutionary War, and associ- get interpretive information as they walk the ated commemorative activities, park staff also interpretive trail; a Junior Ranger program address the international politics of the war and allows kids to earn a badge by completing an 19th-century lifestyles, though the latter subject activity booklet; and the park’s newly updated is considered to be a low priority as it is the visitor center includes an interactive museum primary interpretive theme of the adjacent state display and a new film. park. The park participates in anniversary celebra- tions each year, beginning with a reenactment EXTERNAL SUPPORT—PARTNERSHIPS of the march of the Overmountain Men on PROVIDE ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE what is now called the Overmountain Victory Community involvement with Kings Mountain National Historic Trail. This National Park National Military Park benefits resources and Service site was established in 1980 to gives members of the public an opportunity to commemorate the route that Patriot militia become resource stewards. Eagle Scout groups took through Virginia, Tennessee, North have completed several projects in the park, Carolina, and South Carolina as they pursued including construction of bat houses and trail

maintenance. The park’s Volunteers in Parks WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: program offers opportunities for people to assist park staff and support the park’s mission • Participate in park planning efforts: The public is invited to by staffing the visitor center information desk, provide input on all park plans and studies. Check presenting interpretive programs to the public, www.nps.gov/kimo for information on park planning work and maintaining trails, and assisting with mainte- ways to participate. nance and resource management projects. The park even offers some limited volunteer • Support or become a member of a group helping to housing and a trailer pad with hookups for a protect the park: Kings Mountain Brigade of Friends (2641 mobile home. Park Road, Blacksburg, South Carolina, 29072) or NPCA Agreements with universities and research (www.npca.org/support_npca). institutions, such as the Clemson University 35 • Volunteer in the parks. Many parks are looking for dedicated Cooperative Extension, Florida A&M University,

people who can lend a helping hand. To learn about opportu- ark the South Carolina Native Plant Society, and the nities for volunteering at Kings Mountain National Military Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Park, contact the park at 864.936.7921. Working Group, have proven fruitful for the park and continue to develop. A research agree- • Become an NPCA activist and learn about legislative initia- ment with Clemson University for the study of tives and protection projects affecting parks. When you join fuels management provides the park with two our activist network, you will receive Park Lines, a monthly elec- or three interns each year, and researchers from tronic newsletter with the latest park news and ways you can the university have conducted a number of help. Join by visiting www.npca.org/takeaction. biological surveys, including ones for butterflies and dragonflies. A team from Tennessee Tech

University conducted a wetland survey in the Kings Mountain National Military P park. The park’s vegetation management plan details the park’s goals for increased outreach through the development of cooperative part- nerships. For cultural resources, the University of South Carolina partnered with the park to complete an archival assessment in 1999, and Texas A&M University has nearly finished work to treat and preserve 75 at-risk museum objects. In addition to volunteers and partner groups, the park is fortunate to have support from the Kings Mountain Brigade of Friends, a nonprofit organization founded in 2000. The group provides services and funding for special proj- ects aimed at preserving the park’s history and environmental integrity, and at enhancing visitor experience and enjoyment. APPENDIX: METHODOLOGY

36 To determine the condition of known cultural and natural resources at Kings Mountain KAT BYERLY National Military Park and other national parks, ark the National Parks Conservation Association developed a resource assessment and ratings process. The assessment methodology can be found online at NPCA’s Center for State of the Parks website: www.npca.org/stateoftheparks. Researchers gather available information from a variety of research, monitoring, and background sources in a number of critical categories. The natural resources rating reflects assessment of more than 120 discrete elements

Kings Mountain National Military P associated with environmental quality, biotic health, and ecosystem integrity. Environmental quality and biotic health meas- ures address air, water, soils, and climatic change conditions, as well as their influences and human-related influences on plants and animals. Ecosystems measures address the extent, species composition, and interrelation- The Centennial Monument commemorates the ships of organisms with each other and the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Kings Mountain. physical environment. The scores for cultural resources are deter- mined based on the results of indicator ques- For this report, researchers collected data tions that reflect the National Park Service’s and prepared a paper that summarized the own Cultural Resource Management Guideline results. The draft underwent peer review and and other Park Service resource management was also reviewed by staff at Kings Mountain policies. National Military Park. Stewardship capacity refers to the Park NPCA’s Center for State of the Parks repre- Service’s ability to protect park resources and sents the first time that such assessments have includes discussion of funding and staffing been undertaken for units of the National Park levels, park planning documents, resource System. Comments on the program’s methods education, and external support. are welcome.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

For more information about the NPCA thanks the staff at Kings Mountain National Center for State of the Parks® Military Park who reviewed the factual accuracy of and this and other program reports, contact: information used in this report. We also thank peer reviewers for their valuable comments and National Parks Conservation Association suggestions. Center for State of the Parks® PO Box 737 CENTER FOR STATE OF THE PARKS® Fort Collins, CO 80522 ADVISORY COUNCIL Phone: 970.493.2545 E-mail: [email protected] Carol F. Aten Or visit us at www.npca.org/stateoftheparks/ Washington, DC Ray Bingham National Parks Conservation Association General Atlantic Partners Southeast Regional Office Don Barger, Senior Director Keith Buckingham Phone: 865.329.2424 Design Engineer Email: [email protected] Dr. Dorothy Canter Dorothy Canter Consulting, LLC Cultural Resources Researcher: Kat Byerly, National Parks Conservation Association Dr. Francisco Dallmeier Smithsonian Institution Natural Resources Researcher: Louisa Gibson, Masters in Natural Resource Stewardship, Dr. Elizabeth A. Hadly Colorado State University Stanford University Writer/Editor: Elizabeth Meyers Bruce D. Judd Copy Editor: Kelly Senser Architectural Resources Group Design/Layout: Paul Caputo Karl Komatsu Komatsu Architecture Center for State of the Parks Staff: Dr. James Nations, Vice President Dr. Thomas Lovejoy Dr. Gail Dethloff, Director H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, Dr. Guy DiDonato, Natural Resources Program Manager and the Environment Catherine Moore, Cultural Resources Program Manager Dr. Kenton Miller Elizabeth Meyers, Publications Manager World Resources Institute, World Commission on Daniel Saxton, Publications Coordinator Protected Areas Alec Rhodes Austin, Texas Dr. Roger Sayre United States Geological Survey Dr. Douglas Schwartz School for Advanced Research Martha “Marty” Hayne Talbot McLean, Virginia Dr. Lee Talbot George Mason University de Teel Patterson Tiller National Park Service (retired)

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