160th Anniversary of Camp Nelson: A Portal into the Past: Camp Nelson, Photography, and the End of the Civil War

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. However, the war’s ending caused Camp Nelson’s closure and created an uncertain future for Black soldiers and refugees in the weeks, months, and years to come.

 The full schedule of programs will be released soon.