SC State Library at Historic Camden's Annual Carolina Day

General Moultrie holds the South Carolina flag above palmetto ramparts while soldiers are busy around him. Image of painting courtesy of Historic Camden.

Join us Saturday, June 28th to honor South Carolina's history, state flag, and the amazing Palmetto tree.

Learn how on June 28th, 1776, General William Moultrie and a small band of South Carolina patriots were victorious in defending a tiny for on Sullivan's Island against the British Royal Navy. Discover how the South Carolina flag was born and how unassuming logs from local trees helped lead to triumph over the British troops.

There will be historical figures to chat with, engaging activities, and story time for the kids.

OPEN HOUSE: CAROLINA DAY

Saturday, June 28th
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Historic Camden
222 Broad Street
Camden, SC 29020

Carolina Day Books

Cover of Crescent Moon Over Carolina: William Moultrie and American Liberty

Crescent Moon Over Carolina: William Moultrie and American Liberty

Bragg, C. L.

Examines the life of Major General William Moultrie (1730-1805), who is best remembered for his valiant defense of an unfinished log fort on Sullivan's Island at the entrance to Charleston harbor... also brings to light primary sources that are published here for the first time--revealing documents that provide fresh insight into the political and cultural values of Moultrie and his fellow South Carolinians

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Cover of Memoirs of the American Revolution

Memoirs of the American Revolution

Moultrie, William

 Eyewitness account of the American Revolution from General William Moultrie.

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Cover of Palmetto: Symbol of Courage

Palmetto: Symbol of Courage

Palmer, Kate Salley

Recounts how the palmetto tree became a South Carolina state symbol following the Battle of Fort Moultrie fought off the South Carolina coast in 1776.

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Cover of 101 People & Places that Shaped the American Revolution in South Carolina

101 People & Places that Shaped the American Revolution in South Carolina

Edgar, Walter B.

Drawing upon the entries in the award-winning South Carolina Encyclopedia, this volume details the people, places, and ideas that shaped the struggle for American independence in South Carolina. As America approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence, this book also reminds readers of the critical role that South Carolina played in that struggle. Nearly 140 battles and skirmishes were fought in South Carolina during the American Revolution, more than any other colony.

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Cover of Red, White, and Black Make Blue: Indigo in the Fabric of Colonial South Carolina Life

Red, White, and Black Make Blue: Indigo in the Fabric of Colonial South Carolina Life

Feeser, Andrea

Like cotton, indigo has defied its humble origins. Left alone it might have been a regional plant with minimal reach, a localized way of dyeing textiles, paper, and other goods with a bit of blue. But when blue became the most popular color for the textiles that Britain turned out in large quantities in the eighteenth century, the South Carolina indigo that colored most of this cloth became a major component in transatlantic commodity chains. In Red, White, and Black Make Blue, Andrea Feeser tells the stories of all the peoples who made indigo a key part of the colonial South Carolina experience as she explores indigo's relationships to land use, slave labor, textile production and use, sartorial expression, and fortune building.

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Upcoming Event

A helicopter in the SC Military Museum.

Heather McPherson, SC Military Museum Curator of Collections, Discusses Aviation and Space in SC

July 16, 2025, 2:30 PM

The Center for the Book, Speaker at the Center series, will welcome Heather McPherson, Curator of Collections at the SC Military Museum, on Wednesday, July 16th, at 2:30 pm. Heather will present South Carolina stories of aviation and space exploration.