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.
Camp Nelson National Monument For more information, please contact the park at 859-881-5716 or you can e-mail us. 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!
Wreath Laying at US Colored Troops Monument at Green Hill Cemetery
Saturday, May 30, 2026 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm The NPS in partnership with the 12th US Colored Heavy Artillery, descendants, and community members invite you to a special dedication at Green Hill Cemetery in Frankfort, Kentucky starting at 12:00 pm on Saturday, May 30, 2026.The cemetery was established in 1865 and honors Frankfort’s rich African American history and heritage, including US Colored Troops [USCT] who served during the Civil War. The burials include soldiers who served in USCT regiments organized a Camp Nelson.NPS staff and special guests will be dedication a wreath at the USCT Monument.The program is free and open to the public.Green Hill CemeteryEast Main Street (U.S. 60) and Versailles Road (U.S. 421)Frankfort, KY, 40601
2nd Annual Freedom Day Festival
Saturday, June 20, 2026 10:00 am - 4:00 pm The NPS in partnership with the Camp Nelson Foundation, Huntertown Community Interpretive Park, National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations, Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, Jessamine County Public Library, Visit Jessamine, Huntertown Community Interpretive Park, and the Kentucky Historical Society invites you to the 2nd Annual Freedom Day Festival from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The special event commemorates Freedom 250 by marking the Independence Day celebration organized by African American soldiers and refugees at Camp Nelson on July 4, 1865, and the Brigadier General Charles Young Memorial Historical Corridor—the 170-mile route from Camp Nelson National Monument in Jessamine County to Mays Lick—and concludes at the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Wilberforce, Ohio. The festival features live music featuring The Marshall Law Band, food, arts and crafts, children’s activities, guided talks and walks, and cultural demonstrations. It's free and open to the public!
From Citizen Soldiers to Veterans: Civil War Tour at Camp Nelson National Cemetery
June 27, 2026 11:00 am - 12:30 pm The NPS, in partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs, is organizing a guided tour of Camp Nelson National Cemetery. This program details the stories of the US Army veterans interred in the years after the Civil War, including soldiers who served in regiments organized and trained at Camp Nelson. The program is free and open to the public. Meet NPS staff outside the cemetery caretaker lodge and visitor center Camp Nelson National Cemetery 6980 Danville Road Nicholasville, KY 4035
160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson
Civil War for Civil Rights Symposium: “Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit” July 18, 2026 10:00 am - 4:00 pm The event 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 full lineup will be released soon.
Night Sky Program
September 4, 2026 (Weather Date: September 11, 2026) More information will be released soon.
Family Archeology Day
September 19, 2026 10:00 am - 12:30 pm The NPS celebrates Kentucky Archeology Month at Camp Nelson National Monument! Every October the Archaeological Institute of America and collaborating organizations across the United States, Canada, and abroad present special programs and activities for people of all ages! The Camp Nelson Civil War District was listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. The district is nationally significant under the Criteria A and D for Military, Archeology, and Ethnic Heritage! The event features fun activities and prizes for children of all ages, including an archeology “dig in a box,” analyzing artifacts, a museum scavenger hunt, and a special Junior Archeologist activity booklet! The program is free and open to the public.
National Public Lands Day
September 26, 2026 More information will be released soon. 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 Ranger Steve T. Phan, 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: April 23, 2026