Camp Nelson commemorates its 160th anniversary all-weekend long

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) -With 32 national historic landmarks in Kentucky, there is a lot of history to learn about our commonwealth.

One of the sites is Camp Nelson located in Nicholasville. It was one of the largest recruitment centers for the United States Colored Troops, or USCT, during the American Civil War.

This weekend, people from all over have traveled to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the national monument.

Park Ranger Steve Phan said the event is a way to remember history.

“There’s a lot of people that have come out here to learn about this unique and complex story,” Phan said. “I mean the stories and perspectives and the things that happened here are nationally significant.”

The over century-long history includes the site serving as a recruitment and training center for the USTC.

This weekend, the activities and lessons focused on their journey and their families who followed them here to escape slavery.

“There are living historians here that are portraying African American soldiers and that includes descendants of soldiers that were here 160 years ago,” Phan said.

One of the reenactors is Tammy Gibson, who explained the duties of the women refugees like being a washerwoman, which would have brought in only six dollars a month.

She said that simple portrayals like this can spark conversation.

“Black History is American History and I think if we can come to the table together, I feel like it would be a better world if people can just have that open conversation,” Gibson said.

She said that it all starts with educating yourself, which she does through meeting people at historical events like this one.

“Meeting new people, descendants, I take those stories and add them to my oral stories when I do my reenactments and just have that oral family history, which I feel is very important,” Gibson said.

Events on Sunday start at 9 am and end at 3 pm but you can come to learn about the people of Camp Nelson any day as the site offers free trails and tours year-round.

You can find everything Camp Nelson has to offer by visiting their website.