NPS Camp Nelson 1866The US Army established Camp Nelson on April 29, 1863. Over the next three years, the site served as a fortified supply depot, hospital, recruitment and training center, and refugee camp. The National Park Service (NPS) commemorates the 160th Camp Nelson (2023-26) with a series of special events, programs, and multi-media presentations! 
Library of Congress and University of Kentucky 2026 Spring & SummerJoin the NPS for special programs this spring and summer at Camp Nelson National Monument! The calendar features a diverse array of events, featuring the 2nd Annual Freedom Day Festival and 4th Annual Summer Ranger Series, and the conclusion of the 160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson (1866). All events are free and open to the public. 4th Annual Summer Ranger SeriesJoin the NPS for the 4th Annual Summer Ranger Series at Camp Nelson National Monument. The summer programs feature the 5th Annual History at Sunset, the 2nd Annual Freedom Day Festival, and special events marking the conclusion of the 160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson in 1866. Other programs include Night Sky, Family Archeology Day, and National Public Lands Day!
Night Sky Program
September 4, 2026 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm The National Park Service (NPS) invites you to gaze at the stars with park staff at the first Night Sky Program at Camp Nelson National Monument! We’re partnering with the Bluegrass Amateur Astronomy Club to host a star gazing program that’s going to be out of this world!  NPS staff will discuss Night Skies and National Parks, and President Richard Schrantz of the club will be on site with a telescope as we explore the sky!  Visitors interested in this astronomical program should bring:  Camping chair(s)A blanketWarm clothes like gloves, hats, and thick socks with closed-toed shoesA headlight or flashlight with red light capabilitiesA sense of adventure!We recommend that you arrive at 7:45 to safely make your way from the parking lot to the viewing area. Once at the telescope, it’s “LIGHTS OUT,” to help everyone’s eyes adjust to the dark and to have the best viewing experience! Visitors with pets and young children are encouraged to be mindful or normal bedtime routines when planning to attend! If there is inclement weather, especially clouds or precipitation, the makeup date is the following Friday, September 11, 2026, starting at 8:00 pm. Stay tuned for updates! Family Archeology Day The program is free and open to the public.
National Public Lands Day
September 26, 2026 9:30 am - 12:30 pm National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is traditionally the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort. It celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits. Join the National Park Service (NPS) for NPLD at Camp Nelson National Monument on Saturday, September 26, 2026! Volunteers will assist park staff with the removal of downed vegetation at Fort Jones—a fully enclosed earthwork that anchored the Defenses at Camp Nelson at Hickman Creek during the Civil War. All participants should meet NPS staff at the Visitor Center. From there, visitors will follow a vehicle caravan from the Visitor Center to the parking lot along Sugar Creek Road. We will then hike ¼ mile from the parking lot to Fort Jones then back once the work is complete. Participants should wear long sleeves and pants and bring a water bottle and sunscreen. Working gloves and tools will be provided
6th Annual Luminaria and Memorial Walk
November 7, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm The National Park Service (NPS) invites you to participate in the 6th Annual Luminaria and Memorial Walk which pays tribute to all freedom seekers who sought refuge at Camp Nelson during the Civil War. The special event starts at 6:00 pm on Saturday, November 7, 2026. On November 23, 1864, over 400 African American refugees, including the wives and children of US Colored Troops [USCT] were expelled from Camp Nelson during the Civil War. It was at least the eighth and largest expulsion of Black refugees from the base and resulted in the deaths of at least 102 souls. The November Expulsion led to the establishment of the Home for Colored Refugees at Camp Nelson and the Congressional act which emancipated the wives and children of USCT soldiers. The special event features interpretive talks by NPS staff and invited guests and a guided walk to Graveyard No. 1, where over 400 luminaries will be light to honor the people expelled and other freedom seekers who sought refuge at Camp Nelson. The program begins outside the Barracks building, located adjacent to the Visitor Center and Museum, and is free and open to the public. #NationalParkService #NationalPark #Kentuck 5th Annual History at Sunset Join the NPS for the 5th Annual History at Sunset series at Camp Nelson National Monument! The 2026 Lineup features special programs which mark the 160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson in 1866. The series features 3 programs starting at 7:00 pm.
All programs are free and open to the public.
Camp Nelson’s Military Machine of War (Campfire Program)
June 12, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Thousands of civilians, both free and enslaved, were tasked with constructing, operating, and maintaining Camp Nelson, a massive supply center and recruiting depot for the US Army during the Civil War. By war’s end, the base extended to over 3,000 acres and featured 300 buildings to supply miliary campaigns and 16 regiments organized here. Who were these people? What were their roles and duties? Learn more on June 12th! The campfire program is free and open to the public and will take place in the field adjacent to the Visitor Center and Museum. Visitors should bring camping chairs.
US Colored Troops in Texas and Mexico after the Civil War (Campfire)
July 17, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm The 160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson commences with a special campfire program featuring Dr. W. Stephen McBride and Park Rangers Steve T. Phan and Grayson Briggs, who will be sharing the service and stores of US Colored Troops, including Kentucky soldiers, who served along the Texas-Mexico border after the Civil War. The campfire program is free and open to the public and will take place in the field adjacent to the Visitor Center and Museum. Visitors should bring camping chairs. Saturday, July 18, 2026: The 160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson concludes on Saturday with the Civil War for Civil Rights Symposium: “Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit” which marks the nation's 250th Anniversary and the conclusion of the 160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson (2023-26). This special commemoration details the closing of Camp Nelson in 1865-66, the post-war experience of people who sought freedom and refuge here during the Civil War pursuing the ideals outlined during our nation’s founding in 1776, and the living legacy of Camp Nelson in Kentucky and around the country today. The anniversary features special presentations by scholars, NPS staff, and community partners. The event begins at 10:00 am. The full lineup will be released soon.
Marching Home: US Colored Troops Veterans in Kentucky after the Civil War
Huntertown Community Interpretive Park (Versailles, KY) August 8, 2026 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm The NPS, in partnership with Huntertown Community Interpretive Park, will explore the experience of African American soldiers and their families in Kentucky after the Civil War, including the US Colored Troops veterans who served in Camp Nelson regiments and later established communities in Bluegrass. 494 African American men and other freedom seekers journeyed from Woodford County to Camp Nelson to enlist with the US Colored Troops in 1864-65. Location:Huntertown Community Interpretive Park 1546 Huntertown Road Versailles, KY 40383 
Library of Congress The Unchartered Road to FreedomAfter the Army of the Ohio’s successful liberation of East Tennessee, the US Army nearly abandoned Camp Nelson as fortified supply depot in March 1864. However, the army’s controversial decision to organize, recruit, and train US Colored Troops [USCT] at Camp Nelson and other centers in Kentucky sparked the destruction of slavery in the Bluegrass State. 
National Archives and Records Administration Army of LiberationClick here to learn about the formation of the Army of the Ohio and its operations in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee over the course of 1863. The new army was organized to liberate Unionists in East Tennessee from Confederate occupation and it would ultimately achieve that objective, but it would require marching far and fighting hard. The 21st Massachusetts Infantry was only one of many regiments in the Army of the Ohio, but the experiences of its members reveal both the hardships and triumphs of the 1863 campaign. 
NPS Civil War 160th in 60The National Park Service (NPS) commemorates the 160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson (2023-26) in a brand-new video series: Civil War 160th in 60!
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Last updated: August 11, 2026