Take a self-guided audio tour of Camp Nelson National Monument in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Ranger Steve Phan will guide you through nine different sites in this historic park, beginning with the U.S. Army’s Officers’ Spring and ending with Fort McKee. Be sure to bring water and wear comfortable shoes for this approximately 1.8 mile walk.
The Camp Nelson History Walk is a partnership between the Jessamine County Public Library and Camp Nelson National Monument.
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About Camp Nelson National Monument
Jessamine County established and administered Camp Nelson starting in 1998. In 2018, Camp Nelson was declared a National Monument by Presidential Proclamation, becoming the 418th unit of the National Park Service. The park encompasses 465 acres and includes a visitor center, museum, walking trails, and the Fee Memorial Church.
The U.S. Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified base and supply depot in 1863 during the Civil War. The site evolved to become one of the largest recruitment and training centers for United States Colored Troops [U.S.C.T.] and served as a refugee camp for their families. The monument is a testament to the courage, resiliency, and perseverance of those seeking freedom from slavery and pursuing self-determination during and after the Civil War.
Tour Stops
- U.S. Army’s Officers’ Spring
- Provost Marshall’s Ice House
- Military Prison
- Fort Jackson
- Grave No. 1
- Fort Putnam
- Fort Pope
- Fort Taylor
- Fort McKee
Episode Credits
Written by Steve T. Phan.
Narrated by Carrie Green and Steve T. Phan.
Recorded and engineered by Carrie Green.
Music by Scott Whiddon.