South Carolina is commemorating a pivotal moment in its history with the 250th anniversary of the raising of the first South Carolina flag. On Saturday, September 13, a special event was held at Fort Johnson to honor the revolutionary act that took place a quarter of a millennium ago.
On the historic day in September 1775, at the onset of the Revolutionary War, the first American flag to fly in South Carolina was raised. Designed by Colonel William Moultrie, the blue flag with a white crescent in the top corner was raised over the fort. The simple banner became a symbol of the colony’s growing defiance against British rule. The design of this flag, with its iconic crescent, would later serve as the foundation for the state’s modern flag (represented in the picture shown), with a palmetto tree added after the Battle of Sullivan’s Island in 1776.
The commemoration ceremony, organized by the South Carolina 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commission, featured a variety of educational and historical activities. Attendees were able to witness a reenactment of the flag raising, complete with musket and cannon volleys. Historians also gave talks on the flag’s significance, and live demonstrations of indigo dyeing—a major staple crop and a key element of the flag’s original blue color—were held for the public.
This event is part of a series of commemorations across the state as South Carolina prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The celebration aims to educate residents on the state’s central role in the nation’s founding and to honor the sacrifices of the patriots who fought for independence.
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