Bring Sergeant Jasper’s Heroic Moment from the Battle of Sullivan’s Island Back to Life!

An Interactive Mural Honoring Sergeant Jasper’s Rallying Cry at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island

Step through a time portal into a critical moment in the formation of our country, reimagined by interactive muralist Kelsey Montague at Battery Thompson. Peel back the layers and peer into the past for a glimpse into the First Siege of Charleston of June 28th, 1776, when British warships bombarded a palmetto log fort on what is now Thompson Park at Breach Inlet on that spit of sand at the mouth of Charleston Harbor, known as Sullivan’s Island. In the heat of battle, the Liberty Flag of the Patriots was felled, but not for long! In a moment that stirred patriotic hope and galvanized patriotic resolve, Sergeant William Jasper jumped onto the ramparts and lifted the flag back up over the fort, signaling to both the British and the American Patriot fighters that this battle was not over and that the Patriots would not soon back down.

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of this great moment in our American history and its cascading effect on the mettle and morale of the American Patriots, for this moment marked a turning point in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island and was one of the first definitive victories for our fledgling nation against the mighty British empire in the American Revolutionary War.  What became known as Carolina Day has been commemorated in Charleston since 1777. The Liberty Flag has evolved into the State Flag of South Carolina, recognizing the achievement of those brave patriots at the palmetto fort. And Sergeant Jasper himself appears on the Town of Sullivan’s Island’s Official Seal. 

Pose, Snap, Share

Now you, too, can raise the flagpole in this interactive art mural, and share your victory with the world! Stand on the ramparts, grasp the flagpole, strike your pose, rally your troops, and share your photo using hashtags #WhatLiftsYou and #SC250. 

More About The Sestercentennial (250th Anniversary)

The SC250 Commission, chartered by the SC General Assembly in 2019, graciously sponsored this interactive art piece and will be hosting many other exhibits and activities across the state of South Carolina to promote the 250th anniversary of South Carolina’s fight for freedom in the Revolutionary War.  Events and programs will continue through 2033. Learn more and explore how you can get involved by visiting the SC250 website here.

About the Artist

Kelsey Montague is a world-renowned interactive street mural artist; her murals are most notable for their “what lifts you” hashtags.  Kelsey has art installations spanning the globe, see a world map of her public art here, and now we at the Town of Sullivan’s Island are lucky enough to partner with her on this project.  Kelsey has crafted a SC250 mural that is fun, engaging, family-friendly, and just in time for the Carolina Day celebrations in 2025 and beyond, celebrating what lifts us in much the same way Sergeant Jasper lifted more than just a flag.  You can check more of her work at this link.