You are invited to join us in the commemoration of the 160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson on Saturday, July 26, 2025!
The special commemoration, A Portal into the Past: Camp Nelson, Photography, and the End of the Civil War, includes presentations by scholars, NPS staff, and descendants; authentic period photography; and guided tours. The NPS is partnering with Military Images to display the traveling exhibit, “Faces of Freedom,” which features 37 high-quality prints made from original images in private and public collections of U.S. Colored Troops (USCT), including soldiers who served in regiments organized at Camp Nelson.
In the final days of the Civil War in 1865, Camp Nelson remained an active military base for both soldiers and civilians. The U.S. Army continued to enlist and train USCT here and at other recruitment stations, and the site served as a bastion of freedom for their families at the Home for Colored Refugees.
Schedule of Events
10:00 am – 10:05 am: Welcome and Introduction, Ernie Price, Superintendent
10:05 am – 10:15 am: 160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson in 1865, Steve T. Phan, Chief of Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services
10:15 am – 11:15 am: A Portal into the Past: Civil War Photography, Dave S. Wilson, Victorian Photography Studio
11:20 am – 12:20 pm (Keynote): Faces of Freedom: African American Faces of the Civil War, Ronald S. Coddington, Military Images
12:20 pm – 1:20 pm: Break
1:25 pm – 2:25 pm: Archaeology of the C.J. Young Photography Gallery at Camp Nelson, Dr. W. Stephen McBride
2:35 pm - 3:35 pm: Camp Nelson Military Prison: Insights from Archaeological Research and Historical Photographs, Dr. Brian Mabelitini, Kentucky Assistant-State Archeologist
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm: History at Sunset: Home for Colored Refugees and the End of the Civil War
Activities
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
19th Century Photography Station, Victorian Photography Studio
Junior Ranger
Temporary Exhibits
• Faces of Freedom: Images of US Colored Troops
• Archeology of Camp Nelson's Photography Studio
All programs are free and open to the public.
#NationalParkService #NationalPark #Kentucky #CivilWar
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