The inspiration for the new Centennial Honor Garden at the Rev War Forensic Institute was to provide sacred space for contemplation. Located just adjacent to the burials of the Camden Fourteen at the Old Presbyterian Burying Ground, the project was a collaboration between Historic Camden Foundation, the Camden Garden Club, and landscape architect Howard Wallace.

The formal design of the garden is meant to evoke a colonial garden in its formality. The pattern and colors of the flag of Great Britain are outlined with authentic handmade bricks from North Carolina-based Old Carolina Brick Company. Its quintessentially Southern offerings include ferns, camellia, and yellowwood punctuated by a pink granite obelisk.

Designer Wallace hoped that visitors will not only see the beauty of the space, but also be uplifted by its spiritual setting.

Future plans for the garden site are ongoing. Historic Camden Foundation is hard at work designing an exhibit space to contain and share the unique DNA stories of the Battle of Camden combatants and their families.

Colonial era Camden had three meetings houses that have been lost to time, though the cemeteries remain. Two of these are on Historic Camden’s property, including the Revolutionary War Cemetery where our fallen are now buried. The new RWFI headquarters will be built adjacent to this as a replica of the 18th century Presbyterian Meeting House that was originally built by settlers.

Breaking ground in 2026, this space will include exhibits sharing the research being done for the Camden Fourteen, as well as interactive educational experiences and additional space for RWFI projects and staff.