Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument

Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument

Established as a Union supply depot and hospital during the Civil War, Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument became a recruitment and training center for African American soldiers, and a refugee camp for their wives and children.

Thousands of slaves risked their lives escaping to this site with the hope of securing their freedom and, ultimately, controlling their futures by aiding in the destruction of slavery.

The camp is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and was declared a National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) in March 2013. The site is also part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.