Washington, D.C. — Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) has introduced the Camp Nelson National Monument Boundary Expansion Act, legislation that authorizes the addition of approximately 132 acres to the Camp Nelson National Monument in Jessamine County, Kentucky. The proposed expansion will bring the total acreage of the Monument to 597 acres, enhancing the preservation and interpretation of one of the most significant African American emancipation and recruitment centers during the Civil War.
Camp Nelson was established by the Union Army on April 29, 1863, exactly 162 years before the introduction of this bill, as a supply depot and hospital. It later became one of the largest recruitment and training centers for African American soldiers in the United States. More than 10,000 African American men enlisted there, and the site evolved into a major humanitarian hub for freed slaves and their families seeking refuge and freedom.
“This legislation honors the legacy of Camp Nelson as a beacon of freedom and sacrifice during one of the most defining chapters in our nation's history,” said Congressman Barr. “Expanding the Monument’s boundaries ensures that future generations can experience the full story of this sacred site—including the role it played in Black military service, emancipation, and early efforts to care for freedmen and their families.”
The expansion includes the fort’s northern barricade, the strategic Kentucky River bend, and portions of the historic “Home for Colored Refugees,” where formerly enslaved women and children lived alongside enlisted African American soldiers. These new additions will deepen the visitor experience and further illuminate Camp Nelson’s role as a cradle of freedom in a Union slaveholding state.
“Camp Nelson National Monument is a significant location not only to our country but to our culture,” said Jessamine County Judge Executive David West. “I fully support the expansion of this important piece of property.”
“The expansion of Camp Nelson is not just about preserving history—it’s about strengthening our community’s connection to the courageous stories that helped shape our country,” said Nicholasville Mayor Alex Carter. “Camp Nelson holds a sacred place in our nation’s history and in the heart of Nicholasville. I’m proud to stand with Congressman Barr in supporting this expansion, ensuring the hallowed ground of Camp Nelson’s rich heritage remains a place of learning, reflection, and inspiration for generations to come.”
“The American Battlefield Trust was proud to work with Jessamine County, the National Park Foundation, and the National Park Service to establish the Camp Nelson National Monument, and we support Rep. Barr’s legislation extending the boundaries of this hallowed ground,” said Trust President David Duncan. “This expansion honors the memory of those who called Camp Nelson their 'cradle of freedom' and ensures all who come to the site have a deeper understanding of their stories.”
Camp Nelson was designated a National Monument in 2018 by President Donald Trump and then-Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke at the request of Congressman Barr. Camp Nelson is the first national monument to be designated in the Commonwealth. Today, it stands as one of the few preserved Civil War sites that specifically commemorates African American military service and the pursuit of freedom.
Congressman Barr’s legislation ensures that Camp Nelson’s full history—military, humanitarian, and emancipatory—will be preserved and shared for generations to come.
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