Kings Mountain Ferguson rifle event

 

On October 1, 1776, Patrick Ferguson demonstrated his breech loading flintlock rifle for King George III at Windsor Castle. During the demonstration he performed numerous feats of marksmanship which enabled him to patent his invention and raise an experimental corps of riflemen to test his rifle in the field. This year marks the 250th anniversary of that demonstration. To mark the occasion, we will be opening a new special exhibit “To See Which did the Most Execution: The Development and Trials of the Ferguson Rifle” on Thursday October 1, 2026 which will run until March 31, 2027. This exhibit will explore the story behind the development of the legendary Ferguson rifle and how it came to be put into service by the British Army. The exhibit will be located in the Kings Mountain National Military Park visitor center museum.