The Beaufort County Library, in cooperation with the BDC, Beaufort County Historical Society, the Beaufort County 250th committee and others, will celebrate the quarter-millennial of American democracy from April 1 through July 2 with a mix of activities you can do (mostly) at your own convenience.
Revolutionary Roots Programs
Among those activities are multiple offerings of "Revolutionary Roots," a hands-on Ancestry Library Edition (ALE) program to learn how to trace your lineage, uncover stories about ancestors who lived during the Revolutionary Era, and see how your own family may connect to America's fight for Independence. No prior genealogy experience is required - just curiosity and a love of history! Library staff will be on hand to help you learn the basics. Perhaps you'll find an ancestor or two whose service might make you eligible for a (Continental) Revolutionary War related heritage society.
Military records are rich with genealogical information that will grown your family tree. Come learn how to get the most out of the ones related to the American Revolution on ALE.
Did you know that you can access the Library's ALE subscription via the public WIFI inside our buildings? For your own convenience, we encourage you to bring your laptop or smart phone with you the day of the session.
Don't have a laptop computer or a smart phone? Not a problem. You can use Library equipment where available - though it's best to ask what will be available at each location in advance of the session. Equipment often varies among the branch libraries.
The "Revolutionary Roots" program will be offered:
Note: Please see the Library calendar entries for each of the above sessions for specific registration requirements at each location.
Can't make any of these dates and times? Not a problem. The BDC can help.
The BDC's Sydney Whiteside offers one-on-one instructional sessions to will show you how to search for your Revolutionary War era ancestors by appointment. Just contact us at bdc@bcgov.net or 843-255-6468 to make the necessary arrangements for a two-hour research slot.
Attendance at any of the "Revolutionary Roots" sessions at the branches or by appointment in the BDC Research Room will earn you a stamp on the Library's Celebrate America 250 passport shown above that is available at all BCL locations and bookmobiles.
You could just stop there ... but wait! There's even more ways for you to celebrate America's 250th birthday at the Library.
Celebrate America 250 Passport
There are 6 optional activities on the Celebrate America 250 passport, but only 4 are necessary to be eligible for a Beaufort County 250th committee sticker. Choose any 4 activities from this list:
- Color a Square for the Library Paper Quilt
- Attend Play Like It's 1776
- Complete the Historic Marker Scavenger Hunt
- Attend Revolutionary Roots
- Add to the Library Time Capsule (submissions will be permanently archived in the BDC Research Room after project ends)
- Attend Liberty and Legacy
Why not "complete the Historic Marker Scavenger Hunt" before or after you "Attend [a] Revolutionary Roots" session? It's easy. Just pick up a "Revealing the Revolution - Library Quest Scavenger Hunt" bi-fold brochure game sheet available at all Library locations, find the "Revealing the Revolution" placards hidden throughout the branch library, and correctly answer the questions on the game sheet. Show the library staff at the service desks your completed game sheet to get another "star stamp" on your passport ... and you're half done to earning a Beaufort County 250th Committee sticker.
If you stick around a few more minutes to "Color a Square for the Library Paper Quilt" or "Add to the Library Time Capsule" with your hope for the future, you can get your Beaufort County 250th Committee sticker from the Library staff as soon as you're done. One visit, 4 activities, passport stamped and prize all in a day. What a deal!
Revealing the Revolution Challenges
To notch up the rewards: Once Library staff have stamped your passport for your participation in the scavenger hunt, return the Scavenger Hunt game sheet (only the Revealing the Revolution game sheet. You can keep the Celebrate 250 passport as a souvenir) to one of the be-starred boxes at the Library location.
BDC staff will get the completed game sheets to the Beaufort County Historical Society on a periodic basis. The BCHS will be distributing prizes via mail over the course of the project. All prizes for the "Revealing the Revolution" challenges are set to be mailed by the end of July as long while supplies last.
As a reminder: The BCL America 250 project ends on Thursday, July 2nd because the Library system will be closed on Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th for Independence Day 2026.
