Clemson University’s Department of Historic Properties and the College of Arts and Humanities have received a $35,000 grant from the South Carolina 250 Commission to plan programs to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and to educate people about the state’s role in the fight for independence.
“This grant is an incredible opportunity for Clemson Historic Properties to do what we do best, bring South Carolina’s history to life for the people who live it every day,” said Naomi Gerakios Mucci, executive director of historic properties. “Whether we are walking Revolutionary War sites with students, publishing a teen’s original poetry inspired by the land beneath their feet, or connecting families to a legacy that belongs to all of us, these programs make history not just something you read about, but something you experience, engage with, and carry with you. As we mark 250 years of the U.S. and South Carolina, commemorating our shared history is an investment in in our community and in the next generation of stewards of our nation’s stories.”
The funding will be used to plan four programs that will happen over the next year:
Club 1776
Club 1776 is a book club in partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). The club will meet three times in the spring to discuss different books on the Revolutionary War. The first book, “The British Are Coming” by Rick Atkinson, was discussed in April.
Upcoming books are:
- “Our First Civil War” by H.W. Brands — May 19
- “Valiant Ambition” by Nathaniel Philbrick — June 16.
All meetings will take place from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at OLLI, located at 100 Patrick Square in Clemson. Registration is required and participation is limited to 25 people. The program is free, and books will be provided. To register, contact OLLI at 864-633-5242 or OLLI@nullclemson.edu.
The book club will continue in the fall, with books and dates to be announced at a later date.
Brick by Brick summer lecture series
This year marks the third year of the Brick by Brick lecture series, which brings authors to speak about their books related to American history, along with tours of historic sites in the Upstate. Click here to see the full schedule of lectures in the series and to register to attend.
In the Footsteps of Freedom — day trips to Revolutionary War sites across the Upstate
A series of day trips for the Fall 2026 is being planned to tour important Revolutionary War sites across the Upstate. Planning is underway for trips to visit the Ninety Six National Historic Site, Kings Mountain National Military Park, Cowpens National Battlefield, and the Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site or Walnut Grove Plantations. Details and registration information will be available at a later date.
Revolutionary Reflections: Teen Poetry Fellowship
The Revolutionary Reflections: Teen Poetry Fellowship at Hopewell House will invite high school students to explore South Carolina’s Revolutionary roots through a series of hands-on poetry workshops led by faculty, historians and teaching artists. Fellows will visit historic sites including Hopewell House, the Hopewell Treaty Oak Site, Hanover House and Fort Hill to inspire place-based writing that connects personal voice to local history. The fellowship culminates in a public showcase at Hopewell House where the participants will present their original poetry inspired by the American Revolution, with work published in a digital archive on the Clemson Historic Properties website. The fellowship will take place in the Spring of 2027.