Cowpens National Battlefield Visitor Center

OPERATING HOURS

The Cowpens National Battlefield Visitor Center is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9 AM to 4 PM, except when closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Columbus Day, and Washington’s Birthday. However, times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.

AMENITIES

• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can ask questions and pick up a park brochure
• Museum
• Park film
• Book and souvenir store
• Restrooms  (outside the building, so they are open even when the Visitor Center is closed)

Information desk and book / souvenir store

Outside the building is the U. S. Memorial Monument, which was dedicated in 1939 and commemorates all men who fought at Cowpens. One side has a commemorative plaque for the Patriots and the other side has one for the British and Loyalists.

U. S. Memorial Monument

Plaque on U. S. Monument listing British troops present at the battle

Plaque on U. S. Monument listing American troops present at the battle

PARK FILM

Cowpens: A Battle Remembered is a live-action film (real actors) that is shown every hour on the hour. The film lasts 18 minutes and covers the key figures, both heroes and villains, of the Battle of Cowpens. The film is “bloodless,” but there are scenes of shooting and soldiers dropping dead to the ground. Kids 8-years-old and up should not be bothered by it. The film does a pretty good job of explaining the battle and should be watched, if possible, before heading out to walk the battlefield.

If you miss the film and don’t want to wait around until the next showing, yet still don’t want to be clueless when you tour the battlefield, the park also has a 13-minute animated map presentation. This is shown on demand, so you don’t have to wait to see it. A narrator explains the battle, and a battlefield map is illuminated with the American and British/Loyalist troop movements. It also shows the positions of other important battles of the American Revolution that took place in South Carolina.

Animated map presentation explains the Battle of Cowpens

MUSEUM

There are some exhibits in the main lobby that show the types of troops that took part in the Battle of Cowpens, as well as a separate museum room. The museum room doubles as a theater, so you are only able to see the exhibits, artifacts, and information panels when the park film is not being shown. Exhibits focus more on the soldiers in general than on the Battle of Cowpens. One half of the museum is dedicated to the Americans (aka Patriots) and the other side to the British. Artifacts include muskets and soldier paraphernalia such as canteens, uniforms, and surgeon knives. A reproduction of a 3-pounder British cannon is also on display. Both cannons used by the British during the battle were captured by the American forces. The museum is small; to read all the information takes only 15 minutes.

The painting on the wall rises to reveal a movie screen

Exhibit on the weapons used in the battle

Cannon exhibit at the Cowpens museum

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Plan to spend no more than one hour at the Cowpens National Battlefield Visitor Center. This would include talking with a park Ranger to get information and a brochure, watching the park film and map presentation, and a thorough visit to the museum.

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