Camp Nelson National Monument, Civil War heritage site in Jessamine County, Kentucky.
The 525-acre Camp Nelson National Monument contains fortifications, earthworks, and the Oliver Perry House, representing a significant Civil War military installation.
Established in 1863, Camp Nelson functioned as a Union Army supply depot and transformed into a major recruitment center for African American soldiers.
The monument preserves the stories of 23,000 African American soldiers who trained at this location during the Civil War, contributing to military operations.
Five miles of walking trails lead visitors through the grounds, connecting interpretive exhibits that explain the site's role in military and social history.
Camp Nelson remains the largest known recruitment and training site for African American Union soldiers from the state of Kentucky.
Location: Jessamine County
Inception: October 26, 2018
Website: https://nps.gov/cane
GPS coordinates: 37.78778,-84.59806
Latest update: March 6, 2025 23:22
Kentucky combines natural areas and historical places. The state includes cave systems, Civil War battlefields, colonial structures, and rock formations. Mammoth Cave, the Civil War sites in Perryville and Mill Springs display the state's natural and cultural heritage.
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