Kings Mountain National Military Park Visitor Center

OPERATING HOURS

The Visitor Center at Kings Mountain National Military Park is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM year round, and until 6 PM on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. It is closed on Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. However, times can always change, so before making travel plans always check the official Kings Mountain Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the latest schedule.

AMENITIES

• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can ask questions and pick up a park brochure
• Register for backcountry hiking and camping
• Park film
• Museum
• Book and souvenir store
• Restrooms

Inside the Kings Mountain Visitor Center

PARK FILM

Battle for Kings Mountain is a 28-minute film that focuses on the commanders of the Battle of Kings Mountain; the militiamen (non-professional soldiers) who traveled from the other side of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina to fight the British; and the actual battle. The film is a “live action” documentary, meaning that it features real actors and battle action. There are scenes of shooting with soldiers falling dead, but no blood or gore is depicted. Kids 8-years-old and up should be able to handle the violence as along as they are familiar with war and death. The film is shown every 45 minutes in the Visitor Center auditorium, which features stadium seating and a large screen. A Ranger will make an announcement about upcoming shows.

Movie theater at Kings Mountain Visitor Center

KINGS MOUNTAIN MUSEUM

Seven exhibit stations at the Kings Mountain National Military Park museum focus on different aspects of the American Revolution and the Battle of Kings Mountain, from the life of family left behind by the soldiers to how Kings Mountain National Military Park came to be. The stations are separate from each other, and most include actual artifacts (such as rifles and muskets), plus information panels about the topic. An audio program accompanies each exhibit station. The audio is mostly a reading of the printed materials on the information panels and the plaques that explain each artifact, but new information is added as well. I like this concept and feel that it keeps people’s attention longer than if they have to read all the information. A video screen displays the spoken words for people who cannot hear. Topics include the aforementioned home life and park creation plus the British army’s southern campaign, the Overmountain Men, the Loyalist militia, battle tactics, and British commander Patrick Ferguson and his Ferguson Breech Loading Rifle.

Exhibits at the Kings Mountain museum

Patriot militia exhibit at the Kings Mountain museum

Rifle invented by Patrick Ferguson

In addition to the exhibits, there is an animated map program that explains the battle by displaying colored lights on a model of Kings Mountain and the surrounding area. I never could figure out how to get it to start, but if you stand around long enough it starts playing.

Light animated map explains the battle

In the Visitor Center lobby is a display of uniforms.

Display of uniforms at Kings Mountain National Military Park

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Of course, most people zip right through museums, but if you want to see and listen to all of the exhibits, it takes about an hour. If you couple that with the park film, plan to spend about 1.5 hours at the Kings Mountain National Military Park Visitor Center.

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