As America marks its 250th anniversary, South Carolina communities are gathering in places their American story occurred – and retelling it for a new generation.

Sept. 1, 2026, was a blazing hot evening at Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina. Undeterred, Revolutionary War reenactor Watson Gunderson took the audience back to 1776.

With the Declaration of Independence in hand, Gunderson read its words aloud. Then he and his fellow reenactors fired their muskets in a thunderous volley, and for a moment, 250 years seemed to disappear:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Just over two weeks later, families gathered beneath the evening sky on Erskine’s tree-lined mall to watch “Young Washington” on a giant outdoor screen. Due West is part of Abbeville County, and the screening was a partnership between Erskine and Abbeville County 250. The following morning, the celebration reached Abbeville students through Southern Campaign 1780’s Liberty Live.