camp-nelson | KY | Find park

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.

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

Camp Nelson National Monument Visitor Center and Museum

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

View of Camp Nelson's pastoral landscape looking northeast near the Visitor Center.

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.

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

The Perry House at Camp Nelson

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 Historians portraying US Army artillery practice loading a cannon

14th Kentucky Light Artillery performing an artillery demonstration at Camp Nelson National Monument.

Physical Address:

6614 Old Danville Road Loop 2

Nicholasville, KY 40356

Mailing Address:

6614 Old Danville Road Loop 2

Nicholasville, KY 40356

contact-details

Phone Number: (859) 881-5716 Voice

Email Address: cane_info@nps.gov
Description:

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance Passes

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

park designation:National Monument

Directions:

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.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Camp Nelson National Monument

The grounds, including nearly 5-miles of unpaved trails and dozens of wayside exhibits explaining the significance of Camp Nelson, are open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset. Please see the Visitor Center tab for opening and closing hours.

Weather Information:

Kentucky has a moderate climate, where summers are humid with highs typically in the upper 80s, and winter highs are in the low 40s. Of course, be aware of the possibility of storms or more extreme temperatures on occasion. The wettest months are March - July when about 4 inches of rain per month are expected, with other months of the year are usually drier.