Preserving the Past for the Future

Preserving the Past for the Future. Fort Fair Lawn. , There was a time when Fort Fair Lawn, a significant site in the struggle for American independence, was in danger of being lost forever. Indeed, a housing subdivision was proposed for this property shortly before it was acquired for preservation. Fortunately, Fort Fair Lawn is now protected for future generations. And its inclusion in South Carolina's Liberty Trail will ensure that its role in the birth of our country will not be forgotten., Many people and organizations are responsible for the preservation and interpretation of Fort Fair Lawn. Primary partners include the Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust, South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, South Carolina Conservation Bank, National Park Service (American Battlefield Protection Program), South Carolina Ports Authority, South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism (Recreational Trails Program), the Berkeley County Museum, Town of Moncks Corner, Santee Cooper, and the American Battlefield Trust. The property was acquired in 2016 with Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust owning the property and the South Carolina Battle Preservation Trust holding the conservation easement, which ensures that the property will be protected as a historic site. Both organizations, along with the American Battlefield Trust, collaborated on the interpretation of the 80-acre park., The Fort Fair Lawn redoubt is one of only two surviving Revolutionary War earthwork fortifications in South Carolina. The other is the Star Fort at Ninety Six. Despite some erosion, the rare earthwork is in remarkable condition with the parapet walls still rising six feet high. The fort is surrounded by a moat, six feet across and three feet deep, and the water level fluctuates with local rainfall. The native soil and a limestone base helped preserve the structure. Finding the fort before nature or man destroyed it required research, faith, persistence, local support, and a bit of luck. Ongoing research on Fort Fair Lawn will continue to reveal an understanding of life at this remote post during the war.,

"By protecting these irreplaceable historic sites, we're ensuring they remain available to future generations." , , Chris Vaughn, Executive Director, Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust

, [Caption:] , Preservation Partners , Partners responsible for the preservation of Fort Fair Lawn gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 23, 2022 to celebrate the opening of the historic site to the public.