Charlestown Society C.A.R. Project

2026 Living Liberty’s Legacy: The Palmetto & The Parchment

Welcome to our 2026–2027 society year theme! This year, the Charlestown Society C.A.R. is exploring “The Palmetto & The Parchment: Living Liberty’s Legacy.” This theme connects Charleston’s local Revolutionary history with the lasting civic duties of our generation. Let's explore how youth shaped our nation's founding and how they can continue that legacy within their own communities.

• The Palmetto represents resilience: It honors the brave defense at the Battle of Sullivan's Island (Fort Moultrie) in 1776, where spongy native palmetto logs famously deflected British cannonballs.

• The Parchment represents civic duty: It honors the courage of South Carolina’s signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution who put pen to paper to frame our freedom.

Together, they remind us that liberty requires both the strength to defend it and the wisdom to preserve it. Throughout the year, our members will bring this history to life through local preservation projects, interactive history workshops, and community service. We are not just learning about the past—we are actively living liberty's legacy today!

Here is how our members will bring "The Palmetto & The Parchment" theme to life this year. These hands-on activities offer fun, educational, and impactful ways for children of all ages to participate, supporting both our State and National C.A.R. Projects:

• Charleston Museum History Hunt – Track real Revolutionary War artifacts and colonial documents with a custom, hands-on scavenger hunt at America's First Museum as we learn about the role children played during the American Revolution and how young people contributed to the patriot cause through service, leadership, and sacrifice.

• Fort Moultrie Living History Day
  We will take a kid-friendly guided tour of Fort Moultrie to see the historic palmetto log fortifications firsthand and learn about  Sgt. William Jasper.

• History Book Drive
  To honor the "Parchment" aspect of our theme, our society will collect and donate early American history books to local school libraries and community centers.

• Living History Media Project

Older members will research and record short audio clips about unsung Charleston heroes, creating QR codes that visitors can scan at local historic points of interest. 

• And More!