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The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVNHT) commemorates
the campaign leading to the battle of Kings Mountain by following the Revolutionary
War route of Patriot militia men from Virginia, today's eastern Tennessee,
North Carolina, and South Carolina to the battle site at Kings Mountain
National Military Park in South Carolina.
Although the Trail is still being fully developed visitors may access
approximately 47 miles of the route at various points along the 330 mile
long corridor. A parallel Commemorative Motor Route may also be driven.
The Motor Route uses existing state highways and, in some stretches, actually
travels over the old historic roadway.
The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail follows the route of
assembly of the American Patriot army which decisively defeated an American
Loyalist army at the battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina, in the
dark days of the fall of 1780.
The Overmountain Victory national Historic Trail covers some 220 miles
from Abingdon, Virginia, through Eastern Tennessee, over the high mountains
of North Carolina, across the Piedmont of North and South Carolina, to
the Kings Mountain National Military Park. A 70-mile branch from Wilkes-Surry
joins the main route near its center at Quaker Meadows (Morganton, NC).
Three routes are designated: the true historic route, now often inaccessible,
the route used by OVTA each year, and the public motor route over highways.
The enabling legislation for the Overmountain Victory National Historic
Trail provides for certifying sites along the trail route that have historical
significance to the march of the Patriot army to Kings Mountain. The management
plan drawn up by the National Park Service at the trail's inception identified
16 potential sites worthy of certification. Public access is provided
only on the day of the OVTA march reenactment visit. Access at other times
is at the owner's discretion. Visitors should contact the owner in advance
to arrange access.
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