Camp Nelson

https://www.nps.gov/cane/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Nelson_Heritage_National_Monument Camp Nelson National Monument is national monument, historical museum and park located in southern Jessamine County, Kentucky, 20 miles (32 km) south of Lexington, Kentucky. The American Civil War era camp was established in 1863 as a depot for the Union Army during the Civil War. It became a recruiting ground for new soldiers from Eastern Tennessee and enslaved people, many of whom had fled their living conditions to be soldiers. The US Army established Camp Nelson as a supply depot in 1863, which later grew to become a massive recruitment and training center for African American soldiers, and a refugee camp for their wives and children. Camp Nelson was a shelter for civilians fleeing war, and for enslaved people hoping to secure their freedom and aid in the destruction of slavery. Camp Nelson National Monument is located along US 27 about 20 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky, 6 miles south of Nicholasville on US 27, and 16 miles north of Danville, KY on US 27. The Park entrance is on the original Danville Pike, adjacent to US 27, one mile north of the Camp Nelson National Cemetery. Camp Nelson National Monument Visitor Center and Museum The Visitor Center and Museum are open Wednesday-Sunday. They are closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Oliver Perry "White" House is closed for renovations. The visitor center provides an orientation to the historic events that unfolded at Camp Nelson through exhibits and a 17-minute film. Objects on display and museum exhibits provide a window into the role Camp Nelson played during its height as a military installation, supply depot, hospital, recruitment center, and refugee camp. Camp Nelson National Monument is located along highway US 27 about 20 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky, 6 miles south of Nicholasville on US 27, and 7.5 miles southeast of Wilmore along US 1268. The park entrance is on the original Danville Pike, adjacent to US 27, one mile north of the Camp Nelson National Cemetery. The visitor center is just inside the park gates. In the Footsteps of Freedom at Camp Nelson National Monument 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. Camp Nelson National Monument Visitor Center A paved path leads to a gray wooden building with US Flag flying. Camp Nelson National Monument Visitor Center and Museum Camp Nelson National Monument's Pastoral Landscape Open fields of green grass with trees during a colorful sunrise. View of Camp Nelson's pastoral landscape looking northeast near the Visitor Center. Interior of Soldiers' Barrack Building A row of rough, wooden bunk beds in the soldiers' barrack house. Visit the barracks to imagine life at Camp Nelson during the Civil War. Perry House A white, 2 story farm house with a Civil War cannon sitting in front of it The Perry House at Camp Nelson United States Colored Troops at Camp Nelson, KY during the Civil War African American Civil War soldiers stand at attention outside their barracks. African American Civil War soldiers fighting for the Union stand at attention outside their barracks at Camp Nelson, KY. Living History Demonstration at Camp Nelson National Monument Living Historians portraying US Army artillery practice loading a cannon 14th Kentucky Light Artillery performing an artillery demonstration at Camp Nelson National Monument.