Established as a supply depot and hospital during the Civil War for the U.S. Army, Camp Nelson became a large recruitment and training center for African American soldiers (USCTs), and a refugee camp for their wives and children. Thousands of enslaved people escaped to this site with the hope of securing freedom and ultimately controlling their futures by aiding in the destruction of slavery.






Camp Nelson National Monument
Area
Additional Information
Activities
Camp Nelson National Monument
Entrance fee is $0.00.
No entrance fee is charged to visit the park. https://www.nps.gov/cane/planyourvisit/fees.htm
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.
Weather
Kentucky has a moderate climate, summers are humid with highs typically in the upper 80s, and winter highs 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, other months of the year are usually drier.