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Contact: Steve T. Phan, 859-382-6902
NICHOLASVILLE, KY – The National Park Service (NPS) is excited to announce the new operating hours and the Fall Calendar at Camp Nelson National Monument. The park’s Visitor Center and Museum is open 5-days a week (Wednesday-Sunday). The building will be open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Guided tours will be offered on Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, and when staffing allows. The grounds remain open sunrise to sunset.
Saturday, November 11th: 3rd Annual Luminaria and Memorial Walk (6:00 pm – 7:00 pm)
The NPS invites you to participate in the 3rd Annual Remembrance Memorial and Luminaria Walk to mark the anniversary of Camp Nelson's largest expulsion.
On November 23, 1864, the US Army forcibly expelled 400 African American refugees from the camp during a winter storm, resulting in the deaths of 102 people. It was the eighth and largest expulsion of refugees from the base. The November Expulsion garnered national attention and led to the establishment of the Home for Colored Refugees at Camp Nelson. On March 3, 1865, Congress passed legislation emancipating the wives and children of US Colored Troops.
The special event will feature interpretive talks by NPS staff and special guests, and a guided-walk to Graveyard No. 1, where over 100 luminaries will be lit to honor the people expelled and other freedom seekers who sought refuge at Camp Nelson.
The event begins outside the park’s Visitor Center. The ½ mile walk will be conducted over paved roads and a mowed grass path. Visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes/boots and warm clothing and bring flashlights.
Saturday, November 25th: 2nd Annual #OptOutside Hike (11:00 am – 12:30 pm)
Looking for the perfect, post-Thanksgiving activity to enjoy with your friends and visiting relatives? Join the NPS for the 2nd Annual #OptOutside Hike at the park!
The family-friendly hike takes place at the park on Saturday, November 25th, from 11:00 am -12:30 pm. This program, "A Bite of History", will cover Camp Nelson's Civil War food history, ranging from the "recipes" and methods that US Army soldiers used to make their meals more palatable to the facilities constructed to feed soldiers, civilians, and refugees here during the Civil War.
This moderate hike will cover 1.5 miles over grassy fields.
Meet NPS staff at the Camp Nelson Visitor Center, bring water, and wear warm clothing and sturdy shoes.
#FindYourPark
Camp Nelson National Monument, the 418th unit of the National Park Service, is located six miles south of Nicholasville, KY on Highway 27 and directly north of the Camp Nelson National Cemetery.
For more information, visit the park’s website at: www.nps.gov/cane or the park’s Facebook page at https:www.facebook.com/CampNelsonNPS.
Last updated: November 2, 2023