After the rail was removed, the town used the remaining railroad bed to create the Historic Downtown Walking Trail. Lined with beautiful crepe myrtles trees, the 1.4 mile trail begins at the Ninety Six Train Depot and features many of the town’s most notable landmarks, including the Kinard House, the gazebo, and the Star Fort Fountain.

SCIWAY thanks frequent contributor Mark Clark, an Abbeville native currently residing in Winnsboro, for sharing these photos.

Constructed by Loyalist soldiers and slaves from nearby farms and plantations, the Star Fort was completed in early 1781. Its unique design and 14-foot earthen walls provided unmatched protection and allowed musket and cannon fire in all directions. The Star Fort was home to several important battles, including the Siege of Star Fort, which was the longest siege of the Revolutionary War. Learn more about the Star Fort here.

Many thanks to Mark Clark, an Abbeville native currently residing in Winnsboro, for sharing this photo.

Ninety Six, located in Greenwood County, is famous for its Revolutionary War history. The first land battle of the war was fought here during November of 1775. American forces quickly constructed a fort of wood and straw and dug in for a long fight. The British army was unable to oust the Patriot fighters from their post, and the battle eventually ended in a truce.

The British eventually fortified Ninety Six, and built a wall around the village in the shape of a star. This fort became known as the ‘Star Fort’ and was later overrun by American forces. Its ruins still stand today and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Many thanks to Larry Gleason of Aiken for submitting these pictures in November 2010.

See a picture from a Ninety Six National Historic Site war reenactment

Ninety Six, located in Greenwood County, is famous for its Revolutionary War history. The first land battle of the war was fought here during November of 1775. American forces quickly constructed a fort of wood and straw and dug in for a long fight. The British army was unable to oust the Patriot fighters from their post, and the battle eventually ended in a truce.

The British eventually fortified Ninety Six, and built a wall around the village in the shape of a star. This fort became known as the ‘Star Fort’ and was later overrun by American forces. Its ruins still stand today.

Throughout the 1700s and 1800s, the town’s population rose and fell, and even its location fluctuated. Ninety Six was officially incorporated in 1905. Special thanks to Ann Helms of Spartanburg, for sharing this photo with us. She took it in 2010.

Star Fort is one of the best preserved British forts from the Revolutionary War, and is a part of the Ninety Six National Historic Site.

Photographer Michael Beard says of his photo above that “this is a musket firing demonstration during an encampment event at Star Fort. Each April volunteers from all over the South gather at Star Fort to recreate living history of what it was like during America’s struggle for freedom.”