The Arthur Forbis and Crown Forces Monuments at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park commemorate opposing sides of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, fought on March 15, 1781, in North Carolina’s Piedmont region. Located near the American First Line along Tour Road, the Forbis Monument, erected in 1887, honors a fallen militia captain who resisted British forces, while the Crown Forces Monument, dedicated in 2016, pays tribute to Cornwallis’s troops who secured a costly victory. Just 60 yards apart, these markers reflect the park’s oldest and newest memorials, symbolizing an evolving narrative from American heroism to a balanced recognition of all combatants. They highlight a pivotal Revolutionary War clash that shaped the Southern Campaign’s outcome.
The Guilford Courthouse National Military Park commemorates and memorializes the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, which took place on the site in March of 1781. Twenty-eight monuments within the park honor Revolutionary soldiers, statesmen, heroes, and heroines. The National Park Service now maintains the battlefield, preserving it as a national military park. Visitors can tour the site and visit the educational center, which provides interpretive literature on the events leading up to the battle, the figures involved, and the significance of the battle.
Monument Row at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a distinctive collection of memorials along New Garden Road and next to the Visitors Cente. These memorials honor individuals tied to the Revolutionary War, though not all are directly linked to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781. Established during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by the Guilford Battle Ground Company (GBGC), this row reflects founder David Schenck’s vision of a broader tribute to North Carolina’s Revolutionary heroes, blending battlefield preservation with a commemorative landscape. The featured monuments are those for James Morehead, Kerrenhappuch Turner, James Gillies, and the “No North-No South” memorial.
This monument recognizes David Schenck's contribution to the efforts to preserve this historic battlefield. Schenck was the first president of the Guilford Battle Ground Company, and this monument stands tall as a reminder of the central role of historians, preservationists, and leaders of organizations that are dedicated to supporting historic landmarks.
This memorial recognizes the efforts ot Joseph Morehead who served as the vice president of the Guilford Battleground Company. Morehead's contributions extended beyond monument erection as he was deeply involved in fundraising and advocacy efforts that led to the federal recognition of the battlefield.
Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this monument stands as a dedication to two North Carolinian signers of the Declaration of Independence: William Hooper and John Penn. It stands about 114 feet South West from the well-known Nathaniel Green monument. The monument itself contains a block of granite with an inscription. Atop this granite base stands a bronze figure of a colonial man raising his right hand in the air while the left-hand holds the Declaration of Independence. The name of John Penn is inscribed on the west side and the name of William Hooper on the east side. An inscription on the monument reads, In memoriam. William Hooper and John Penn. Delegates from North Carolina, 1776, to the Continental Congress and signers of the Declaration of Independence. Their remains were reinterred here, 1894. Hewes grave is lost. He was the third signer. “Lee, Henry, and Hooper were the orators of the congress.” John Adams’ Diary Vol. 2 P. 396, 1774.
A bronze monument to Clio, the Greek muse of history, was dedicated at this location on the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park grounds on July 3, 1909. University of North Carolina Professor of Literature Charles Alphonso Smith delivered a dedication speech at the statue’s unveiling, which centered on the importance of history within a democratic society. The statue was one of several landmarks that were removed from the battlefield park in 1937 as part of a decision to center the commemorative landscape on the Revolutionary War. The statue was placed in storage at that time, and in 1942, local officials decided to remove the monument from the park so that its bronze could be used as weaponry in support of the war effort.
Dedicated on July 3, 1915, this 27-foott tall monument honors Nathanael Green, a Major General in the American Revolution. The monument consists of two statues, one with Nathanael Greene on a stallion and a second statue of Athena with a shield and laurels. The monument originally contained cannons on either side, however, those have been removed.
The Delaware and Maryland Monuments at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park honor the soldiers from these states who fought under Major General Nathanael Greene during the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781. Erected in 1888 by the Guilford Battle Ground Company (GBGC), these twin obelisks stand along Tour Road near the American Third Line, commemorating the disciplined Continental troops who held firm against British forces. Crafted from Mount Airy granite, they reflect early efforts to recognize the interstate contributions to the Patriot victory, despite the battle’s tactical loss. Positioned amidst the park’s hardwood forest, they serve as enduring tributes to the soldiers’ resilience.
The American Third Line Monument, dedicated in 1910 at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, stands as a tall granite shaft honoring the Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware Continentals who fought in the climactic stages of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781. Positioned near Tour Stop 6 along Tour Road, it commemorates the roughly 1,600 regular troops under Major General Nathanael Greene who anchored the Third Line, turning a tactical retreat into a strategic blow against British forces. Erected during a period of growing national interest in the park, it reflects early 20th-century efforts to celebrate the battle’s disciplined heroes. Set within the park’s wooded expanse, it marks a pivotal Revolutionary War moment.
The historical marker titled "American Artillery" serves as the location of two replica cannons that resemble the same ones used in the American Revolution. This marker tells the story of how the Americans withdrew from the field after they lost all four of their cannons to the British.
This historical marker is entitled "Third Line Trail" and shares the significance of this location. This trail passes through the actual deployment of the American third line. The location of this line deviated from the regulars, making it a strategic play for Greene. Greene chose this place wisely due to the British having to climb out of the creek before encountering the American force.
This historical marker designates the location of the original Guilford Courthouse that stood at the time of the American Revolution and gave the 1781 Revolutionary War battle its name. Situated near Tour Stop 8 along the park’s trail system, this site commemorates the colonial structure around which Major General Nathanael Greene rallied his troops during the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781. Once a hub of local governance in Guilford County, the courthouse was abandoned by 1808, leaving only archaeological traces.
This monument honors Major Joseph Winston and the Surry County militia that he commanded against the vicious British soldiers led by Lord Charles Cornwallis. Major Joseph Winston contributed to the greater American defense at the Battle of the Guilford Courthouse by commanding the Surry County militia at the southern flank of the 2nd line of defense. The monument of Major Joseph Winston was erected in 1894 to honor him and the Surry County riflemen for their heroic efforts to battle the British army on March 15th, 1781 at the Battle of the Guilford Courthouse.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This walk through Guilford Courthouse National Military Park includes stops at numerous monuments and historical markers that tell the story of this historic battle and efforts to preserve the battlefield and share American history.
