Camp Nelson

Camp Nelson was established by the US Army during the Civil War as a fortified base and supply depot. It soon became a large recruitment and training center for African American soldiers, as well as a refugee camp for their wives and children, and civilians fleeing the war. Many enslaved people also escaped to Camp Nelson with the hope of securing freedom and controlling their futures by aiding in the destruction of slavery. Today, trails wind through the camp and the cemetery for Union dead, providing visitors with a glimpse into the important role Camp Nelson played during the Civil War.