Visitor Center at Moores Creek National Battlefield

OPERATING HOURS

The Moores Creek National Battlefield Visitor Center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 AM to 5 PM. It is closed on Federal holidays except Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. Keep in mind that times can always change, so be sure to check the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the latest schedule.

AMENITIES

• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can pick up a park brochure and ask questions
• Book and souvenir store
• Theater room
• Exhibit area
• Restrooms

Information desk and souvenir store at the Moores Creek National Battlefield Visitor

PARK FILM

A 10-minute film about the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge is shown on request. The film focuses on the battle only. I found this somewhat lacking and would have liked to have seen more on the events that led up to it, as this would have helped put the battle into historical context. The film is a live-action documentary (real actors), and guns and cannon are fired. No actual killing is depicted, but dead bodies are shown lying on the ground. The film is suitable for children who are at least old enough to understand the concept of war and death.

Visitor Center Theater at Moores Creek National Battlefield

MOORES CREEK BRIDGE EXHIBIT AREA

The exhibit area at the Moores Creek National Battlefield Visitor Center is similarly disappointing, as it is a general American Revolution exhibit with a focus on events that happened in North Carolina. Very little about the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge is covered. The main exhibit is an American Revolution timeline, with national events listed on the upper portion and North Carolina events on the lower. Actual artifacts are on display as well, such as uniforms, cannon, and guns.

American Revolution timeline in the Moores Creek National Battlefield Visitor Center

Swivel gun on display at the Moores Creek National Battlefield Visitor Center

To learn about the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, be sure to visit the four animated battle maps. Each covers different days before and up to the battle. These not only show how the Patriots and British Loyalists came to blows on February 27, 1776, but they also cover the prelude to the battle when armies around North Carolina formed and finally came together at Moores Creek, the aspect of the battle that is missing from the park film. This is the only part of the exhibit area that focuses specifically on the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge. I do wish the various militias had been represented with different color lights, for it would have made it easier to keep up with who is who. As is, the Patriots are represented with blue lights and the Loyalists with red lights.

Animated light maps focus on the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge at the Moores Creek National Battlefield Visitor Center

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Plan to spend up to an hour at the Moores Creek National Battlefield Visitor Center. This gives you time to watch the park film and read all of the information in the exhibit area, which takes about 45 minutes. Of course most people just breeze through the exhibits, so you could be done in as little as 30 minutes.

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