Explore the Revolutionary War in Moncks Corner

Begin your afternoon exploring the tranquil beauty of Cypress Gardens, a lush 170-acre botanical garden established by Benjamin Kittredge. In 1909, Kittredge rebuilt the rice field dikes at the defunct Dean Hall Plantation. He planted trees, shrubs and flowers. After over 20 years of work, he opened Cypress Gardens to the public in 1932.

You won’t learn anything about the Revolutionary War at Cypress Gardens. But you can see where scenes from The Patriot, among other movies, were filmed. Go for a walk around the 170-acre botanical garden on trails that loop around the swamps and cross over gorgeous wooden bridges. For a closer look at the local wildlife, opt for a guided boat tour or rent a kayak to paddle through the swamp at your own pace.

After your visit to Cypress Gardens, head over to Breck’s Station for dinner. The locally owned restaurant is known for its giant steaks, but you can also order Lowcountry seafood, burgers and sandwiches. If you’re feeling peckish when you arrive, order some of their homemade onion rings with a thick slice of onion and crunchy breading.

Spend the day exploring historic landmarks, peaceful sanctuaries  and scenic lakeside spots that tell the rich story of Moncks Corner and its surrounding areas.

Start your morning at the Biggin Church Ruins to uncover the layered history of this unique site. Several churches have stood on the site of the Biggin Church Ruins—and they have all met the same fate. The first brick church was finished in 1715 and burned in a forest fire 40 years later. A stuccoed brick church was built around 1767, and then it was burned by the British 15 years later.

After the Siege of Charleston, the British established a garrison at Fort Fair Lawn in Moncks Corner. Biggin Church was used as a supply depot. In late 1781, as General Thomas Sumter approached the area after capturing several other outposts, the British abandoned Moncks Corner. On their way out, they burned Biggin Church to prevent the Patriots from seizing the supplies.

The church was rebuilt and again burned in a forest fire in the 1880s. Today's ruins are remnants of that fourth and final church built on the site. Visitors can explore the cemetery, but a short metal fence around the church ruins keeps people out.

Next, head to Mepkin Abbey to experience the tranquility of this Trappist monastery. The site was originally owned by Henry Laurens, a wealthy diplomat who was sent on a vital mission to Holland in 1777 to secure a wartime loan for the fledgling American government. He was captured by a British ship near Newfoundland, charged with treason and imprisoned at the Tower of London—the only American ever held in the famous prison.

After nearly three years of languishing captivity, Laurens was exchanged for Lord Cornwallis, the British general captured at the Battle of Yorktown. Laurens returned home to Mepkin Abbey, where he remained until he died in 1792.

In 1936, Henry and Clare Boothe Luce, publishers of Time and Life magazines, bought the plantation. They later donated the property to the Roman Catholic Church, and in 1949 the monks of Gethsemani in Kentucky established a Trappist monastery at the site.

Take the guided tour—offered once daily—to learn about monastic life, explore the peaceful grounds and attend the noon service at the Abbey Church. After the tour, visit the Luce Family Cemetery to see where the previous owners are buried. Then, go for a 10-minute walk past the Columbarium to visit the Laurens Cemetery, the final resting place of Henry Laurens and his son, John Laurens.

Make your way to Watermark Bar & Grill for lunch. Located at the end of Black Oak Road, you’ll enjoy views of Lake Marion, a vast body of freshwater created in the 1940s when the Santee River was dammed to generate electricity. All entrees come with two sides—choose between items like their signature 14-ounce charbroiled steak, smothered grilled chicken and pan-fried catfish.

Following lunch, visit the Francis Marion Tomb to pay tribute to one of South Carolina’s most legendary figures. Francis Marion was born and died a South Carolinian, spending much of his life within fifty miles of his birthplace. In 1761, during the French and Indian War, he gained his first military experience—as a British soldier. But when the Revolutionary War began, Marion was commissioned as a captain in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment.

As Charleston was under siege by British General Sir Henry Clinton, Marion was fortunate to be outside the city. When the city was captured in May 1780, Marion was left without a formal unit. He recruited men for a militia and earned the moniker “The Swamp Fox” over the next two years for his uncanny ability to ambush British units and disappear into the swamps.

After the American Revolution, Marion returned to Pond Bluff, the plantation he built just prior to the war, four miles south of Eutaw Springs. When he died in 1795, he was buried in a family cemetery at Belle Isle. The cemetery is open to the public, located at the end of a half-mile paved road.

From the tomb, continue your journey through history at the Eutaw Springs Battlefield, the site of South Carolina’s last major Revolutionary War battle. 

From their pinnacle of capturing Charleston and Camden and building a series of outposts throughout the state, by mid-1781, the British had lost all their advances. The Patriots captured Fort Watson in April, and the British evacuated Ninety Six in June. The remnants of British forces outside Charleston—about 2,000 Regulars and Loyalists—encamped at Wantoot Plantation near Eutaw Springs.

General Nathanael Greene caught up with them on September 8, 1781. The battle was chaotic and disorganized. Starving and weary, Greene’s army chased the British from their camp and immediately turned to looting everything left behind—including the rum. In the chaos, British snipers began picking off Patriots one at a time. Although a tactical victory for Greene, it was another crush to his meager army.

Take a walk through the small battlefield and read the interpretive signs with details about the last pitched battle in South Carolina. A short trail leads to the lake’s edge, where you can look over where Wantoot Plantation once stood. Visit the gravesite of Major John Majoribanks, a British soldier killed at the battle and reinterred on the battlefield when Lake Marion was built.

End the day with dinner at The Barony House, a cozy Moncks Corner staple where country cooking meets delicious Southern desserts. 

When Michelle Hopkins took over The Barony House from founder Van High, she brought a passion for pastries to the country restaurant. The most popular menu item is a meat and three—a meat of the day and three sides like collards, mac and cheese and fresh vegetables. But save room for dessert because you’ll want to try a slice of Michelle’s delicious cakes and pies.