Historic Brattonsville receives 2026 Governor's Award
Historic Brattonsville Awarded 2026 Governor’s Award in the Humanities
McCONNELLS, S.C. – Historic Brattonsville has been named a recipient of the 2026 Governor’s Award in the Humanities, recognizing the site’s significant contributions to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the history and cultural heritage of South Carolina.
The 2026 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities were announced Tuesday, Aug. 11, at a press conference at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. Historic Brattonsville was among seven individuals and organizations recognized for the 35th Annual Humanities Awards.
Governor’s Awards recognize outstanding achievement in humanities research, teaching, and scholarship, as well as individual and institutional efforts that help South Carolinians better understand the state’s cultural heritage and issues that shape its communities. This year’s recipients were recognized for contributions spanning South Carolina foodways, historic preservation, architecture, literature, arts and culture, education, and community engagement. A formal awards ceremony will be held in October at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia.
“This prestigious honor recognizes your exceptional contributions to the humanities and the lasting impact your work has made in communities throughout South Carolina,” South Carolina Humanities stated in its award letter to Historic Brattonsville. “Through your dedication, leadership, and commitment to enriching the lives of others, you exemplify the very best of what the humanities inspire—curiosity, understanding, and meaningful connection.”
One nomination letter noted the significance of Historic Brattonsville’s role in telling the stories of the people who shaped the region. “As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation, what better recipient than a historic site that preserves the stories of the colonists, revolutionaries, plantation owners, enslaved workers, tenant farmers, and their descendants as they strove to create a more perfect union, though often imperfect, through their daily work and interactions with others,” said Jane Marion Wilson, who nominated Historic Brattonsville.
The nomination also recognizes Historic Brattonsville’s efforts to preserve the history of the region and its people, including the restoration and interpretation of the site’s Enslaved Ancestral Burial Ground. “I have never seen a cemetery so thoughtfully and carefully presented to the public as both a sacred ground and important tool for teaching and advocacy,” said Wilson.
Micah Decker, executive director of the Olde English District Tourism Commission, described Historic Brattonsville as more than a destination, calling it “a vital community asset that preserves, teaches, and honors the human experience in South Carolina.” She also praised Historic Brattonsville’s work and its collaboration with Black and white descendants.
“Historic Brattonsville stands as a pillar of excellence in public history, research, and community engagement,” Decker said. “Their work transcends traditional museum interpretation; it serves as an act of historical truth-telling that isn’t pretty or polished. It’s authentic, it’s human; it invites everyone to engage with the complex realities of our shared past.”
The site’s contributions to humanities education were also highlighted by Dr. Melissa Walker, professor of history emerita at Converse University. “Historic Brattonsville developed outstanding programs for the 200 teachers who came from 45 states to learn more about the American Revolution in the backcountry,” Walker said.
She also spoke to the Reconstruction history that Historic Brattonsville tells. “As a historian, I can tell you that Reconstruction-era history is not frequently interpreted at public history sites around the state, so this is a significant contribution.”
Charles LeCount, deputy director of the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites & Properties spoke to the extensive preservation efforts undertaken by Historic Brattonsville.
“Critically, the site has rededicated significant time, funding, and expertise to ensure the original Bratton buildings not only remain standing for generations but are accurately restored and interpreted,” LeCount said. “The site’s careful, and often award winning, restoration…has been a herculean undertaking rarely matched by other historic sites of similar size anywhere in the country.”
Historic Brattonsville is honored to receive this award, which recognizes their commitment to preserving, educating, and sharing South Carolina's rich history and stories for future generations.
About Historic Brattonsville:
Historic Brattonsville is a living history site that presents the agricultural and social history of the Carolina Piedmont from the American Revolution through the Reconstruction Era. The site features over 30 historic structures, including family houses, that provide the setting for the story of the Brattons, those enslaved on the plantation, and the Enslaved Ancestral Burial Ground, the final resting place of 481 people of African descent. The site spreads over 800-acres and comprises farmed land with heritage breed animals, a Revolutionary War battlefield, and a nature preserve with miles of walking trails. Seasonal events, reenactments, and living history programs interpret life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Historic Brattonsville is included in The Green Book of South Carolina – a travel guide to African American cultural sites.
About SC Humanities:
Established in 1973, SC Humanities is a 501(c) 3 organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. SC Humanities presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. SC Humanities’ programs explore the rich heritage of our state and its links to the cultural traditions of our nation and world.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
