Why is it called Ninety Six, SC?
With Ninety Six National Historic Site being a main attraction of this South Carolina town, a walk through is a must if in the area. We were warmly welcomed as soon as we entered the visitor center and encouraged to watch the available film to learn more about this town we had never before heard of. It's always eye opening to visit a place so rich in history. One of the first things most people probably want to know is how the town got its name. It was given by Charleston traders in the early 1700's. They believed it was about ninety-six miles from this area to Keowee which was a Cherokee village in the upper South Carolina foothills. Another notable fact associated with Ninety six is that the first land battle south of New England was fought here. This was in 1775. About six years later, in 1781, the longest field siege of the Revolutionary War took place as 550 loyalists defended Ninety six against 1,000 patriot troops. This gruesome battle lasted almost four f...