Camp Nelson National Monument

09/14/2026

"May the Road Rise Up To Meet You"

As the summer wraps up, Camp Nelson National Monument is saying goodbye to Ellen MacDonald, our wonderful intern visiting us from the University of St Andrews. Hailing from Aberdeen, Scotland, Ellen spent the summer in central Kentucky working on St. Andrews' Commemorative Culture project and assisting both the university and Camp Nelson NM in carrying out research related to the park. When asked what the highlight of her summer at Camp Nelson NM has been, Ellen said she will always remember presenting her research at the People of Camp Nelson community event held in Nicholasville, Kentucky. She also enjoyed exploring the wider Central Bluegrass region and getting to experience the local culture. We cannot wait to see what Ellen accomplishes as a future historian.

We hope to leave Ellen, and all our former interns, with these parting words, “May the road rise up to meet you and the wind be always at your back as you venture forth into the unknown, carrying our laughter with you.”



IMAGE: Intern Ellen from St. Andrews University on her last day at the park. Courtesy: National Park Service/GB

09/12/2026

Camp Nelson National Monument is thrilled to introduce our newest recruit, Elizabeth!

Elizabeth is excited to join our team of Volunteers-in-Park (VIPs), after serving with the National Park Service as an interpretive ranger at several sites. Elizabeth has served over 11 years at different Civil War Era sites, including Gettysburg National Military Park, Andersonville National Historic Site, Fort Pulaski National Monument, and Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. She also worked at Gateway Arch National Park and Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. Hailing from Lincoln County, Kentucky, Elizabeth is excited to learn about the region's complex Civil War Era history and to share that history with visitors.

Please welcome VIP Elizabeth to our team!



IMAGE: Volunteer-in-Park Elizabeth at the park on August 21, 2026. Courtesy: NPS/GB

09/11/2026

Congratulations to our friends at The Filson Historical Society!

Louisville, specifically Taylor Barracks, was 1 of 8 major recruiting and training centers for U.S. Colored Troops in Kentucky during the Civil War. Camp Nelson was the largest in the state and the 3rd largest in the country after Camp William Penn in Philadelphia and New Orleans, Louisiana.

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, the United States was forever changed. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the terrorist attacks, including the 40 passengers and crew members of Flight 93, whose courageous actions thwarted a planned attack on our nation’s capital.

Today, places across the National Park System help preserve the stories, memories, and history of that day and its aftermath. Along with Flight 93 National Memorial, other national parks, memorials, and historic sites preserve stories of those who responded, served, mourned, and helped communities come together in the days and years that followed.

On this 25th anniversary, take time to remember, reflect, and serve. Visit a national park, learn a story, or volunteer in your community in honor of those who were lost and those who answered the call to serve.

Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, the United States was forever changed. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the terrorist attacks, including the 40 passengers and crew members of Flight 93, whose courageous actions thwarted a planned attack on our nation’s capital.

Today, places across the National Park System help preserve the stories, memories, and history of that day and its aftermath. Along with Flight 93 National Memorial, other national parks, memorials, and historic sites preserve stories of those who responded, served, mourned, and helped communities come together in the days and years that followed.

On this 25th anniversary, take time to remember, reflect, and serve. Visit a national park, learn a story, or volunteer in your community in honor of those who were lost and those who answered the call to serve.

NPS Photo

09/10/2026

Camp Nelson National Monument is thrilled to announce that our FIRST Night Sky Program was a massive success! We had over 8 telescopes and were lucky enough to see the Big Dipper, the North Star, Saturn, a few double stars, and the Eagle Nebula. Many thanks to DarkSky KY and the Bluegrass Amateur Astronomy Club Lexington, KY or joining us!

People have been using the night sky for navigating and cultures reasons over the span of human existence.

“These men had gathered in little recruiting camps on the mountain-sides and had found their way to Kentucky, traveling by night and guided by the polestar, as the dark-skinned fugitives from bo***ge had used to make their way to freedom.”
-Major General Jacob D. Cox, 1864

The night sky is an important part of the Camp Nelson story and we’re glad to share that with visitors.



Image 1: Eagle Nebula. Credit: NPS/B. Kane.
Image 2: Caption: Ranger Steve introducing the program. Credit: NPS/B. Kane.

09/09/2026

The Battle of Cumberland Gap

The East Tennessee Campaign commenced at Camp Nelson on August 16, 1863, when the Army of the Ohio began their long and arduous march from Kentucky to the Volunteer State. It concluded on September 9, 1863, when the US Army forced the Confederate capitulation at Cumberland Gap, which had been bypassed and flanked during the march into Tennessee. Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, commander of the Army of the Ohio, proudly reported its' capture to the War Department that day, writing:

"The infantry regiments marched from Knoxville to this place (60 miles) in fifty-two hours. The garrison here, consisting of over 2,000 men and fourteen pieces of artillery, made an unconditional surrender about 3 p. m. to-day without a fight."

Burnside distributed his forces to secure important sites in East Tennessee, especially Knoxville, Sevierville, and Jonesborough. Major operations were over, for now. The War Department's attention turned to the Army of the Cumberland's advance from Chattanooga into Georgia that resulted in the Battle of Chickamauga on September 18-20th.

The Army of the Cumberland's subsequent defeat and retreat resulted in the next evolution and phase of the East Tennessee Campaign that fall and winter: The Confederate Army's attempt to defeat Burnside and recapture Knoxville.

Learn more at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park!

IMAGES:
1] Historic sketch entitled, "General Burnside's Army Occupying the Cumberland Gap."
Courtesy: Harper's Weekly.
2] View from "The Pinnacle," an observation post high above the Cumberland River at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in the Kentucky highlands, near Middlesboro, along the Tennessee border. Courtesy: Library of Congress

09/08/2026

Family Archaeology Day is happening at Camp Nelson National Monument starting at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 19, 2026!

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.

UPDATED CALENDAR! Kentucky is celebrating Archaeology Month, and you can join in on the fun! Here are some upcoming events for September.



Capital City Museum & Historic Sites
Camp Nelson National Monument
Living Archaeology Weekend
Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate
Oldham County History Center
Friends of the Holt Home
Gaslight Festival- Official

09/06/2026

Hours of Operations UPDATE

After a busy summer season that witnessed record-breaking visitation and the conclusion of the 160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson (2023-26), Camp Nelson National Monument's Visitor Center, Museum, and Reconstructed Barracks return to Fall/Winter/Spring Operations after Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026. The buildings will be closed on Tuesday, September 8th.

All buildings will be open and staffed Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The grounds remain open daily sunrise to sunset.

We have 5 programs scheduled from September through November:

September 4th: Night Sky Program

September 19th: Family Archeology Day

September 26th: National Public Lands Day

October 3rd: From Camp to Community: Civil War Tour of Lexington Cemetery

November 7th: 5th Annual Luminaria and Memorial Walk

Check out the details HERE:

https://www.nps.gov/cane/planyourvisit/calendar.htm



IMAGE: A living historian portraying a US Soldier and NPS Park Ranger walk on a grass trail. Courtesy: National Park Service/TE

09/03/2026

"A thousand thanks for the successes you have given us."
-President Abraham Lincoln to Major General Ambrose E. Burnside

East Tennessee was redeemed. After two years of Confederate control, the US Army occupied "Knoxville, Kingston, and other important points," as reported by Major General Ambrose E. Burnside to the War Department on September 3, 1863. The Army of the Ohio launched the long-anticipated East Tennessee Campaign from Camp Nelson on August 16, 1863. Despite hard marching and supply and communication issues, the army advanced from Central Kentucky into the Volunteer State without forcing a major engagement by flanking and bypassing Confederate forces positioned at Cumberland Gap. The army marched 160 miles through difficult terrain in less than 4-weeks.

Civilian Unionists rejoiced the arrival of the liberators. According to Major General Jacob D. Cox, the entrance of the army into Knoxville was “a resurrection from the grave” for the civilian inhabitants, whose “joy had an exultation which seemed almost beyond the power of expression.” Appropriately, East Tennessee soldiers, many who enlisted at Camp Nelson after fleeing the region with their families, led the army's procession. The Cincinnati Commercial newspaper provided a vivid account:

"The infantry marched with surprising alacrity and rapidity. They thought nothing of moving twenty-five miles per day, and would go into camp, after such a march, merry as school-boys. They were delighted to be the liberators of East Tennessee, and feel that they were not in an enemy’s country.

The East Tennesseans were so glad to see our soldiers that they cooked everything they had and gave it to them freely, not asking pay, and apparently not thinking of it. Women stood by the roadside with pails of water, and displayed Union flags. The wonder was where all the stars and stripes came from. Knoxville was radiant with flags. At a point on the road, from Kingston to Knoxville, sixty women and girls stood by the roadside waving Union flags and shouting, 'Hurrah for the Union!' Old ladies rushed out of their houses and wanted to see General Burnside and shake hands with him, and cried, 'welcome, welcome, General Burnside, welcome to East Tennessee!'"

Phase I of the East Tennessee Campaign (Knoxville) was over, but events involving the Army of the Cumberland in Georgia near Chickamauga in mid-September resulted in a renewed Confederate operation into the region.



IMAGE: Living historians portraying the 21st Massachusetts Infantry at the 160th Anniversary of the Knoxville Campaign at Camp Nelson National Monument, August 2023. Courtesy: NPS, BT, and Victorian Photography Studio

09/02/2026

It's a star! It's the moon! It's Camp Nelson National Monument's FIRST Night Sky Program!

The National Park Service (NPS) invites you to gaze at the stars with park staff at our first Night Sky Program on Friday, September 4, 2026, starting at 8:00 pm! 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 blanket
⭐Warm clothes like gloves, hats, and thick socks with closed-toed shoes
⭐A headlight or flashlight with red light capabilities
⭐A sense of adventure!

We recommend that you arrive at 7:45 pm 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!



Visit Jessamine
Visit LEX
KY Tourism, Arts, & Heritage Cabinet
Kentucky Tourism

IMAGE: Telescopes set up on tripods in a grassy field with people gathered under a colorful evening sky. Courtesy: National Park Service