Alert: National Public Lands Day Rescheduled: Due to inclement weather, National Public Lands Day, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 28th, has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 12th from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm.

National Monument

Camp Nelson

A living historian wearing a US Army Civil War uniform and park ranger walk on a mowed path. — A Park Ranger and a United States Colored Troops [USCT] soldier walking on a trail. Trees and people can be seen in the background. NPS

Overview

The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years. the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops and a refugee camp for their families. It served as a shelter for civilians fleeing war and for enslaved people hoping to secure their freedom and aid in the destruction of slavery.

State: KY(859) 881-5716

Hours

Sunday: Sunrise to Sunset
Monday: Sunrise to Sunset
Tuesday: Sunrise to Sunset
Wednesday: Sunrise to Sunset
Thursday: Sunrise to Sunset
Friday: Sunrise to Sunset
Saturday: Sunrise to Sunset

Fees & Passes

Map

More Images

A paved path leads to a gray wooden building with US Flag flying.

Open fields of green grass with trees during a colorful sunrise.

A row of rough, wooden bunk beds in the soldiers' barrack house.

A white, 2 story farm house with a Civil War cannon sitting in front of it

African American Civil War soldiers stand at attention outside their barracks.