More Rural Kentucky

Camping on the Kentucky River

Where we spent our last day just hanging out on the Kentucky River, after taking a day trip into Lexington, and a day trip to…

Visit 1 new National Park Site:

Camp Nelson National Monument (#320), which was established by The US Army as a fortified supply depot in April 1863, to supply Kentucky and eastern Tennessee. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops and a refugee camp for their families. It served as a shelter for civilians fleeing war and for enslaved people hoping to secure their freedom and aid in the destruction of slavery. More than 10,000 formerly enslaved men became soldiers at Camp Nelson in 1864 and 1865. Camp Nelson National Monument, established in 2018, has only been open to visitors for 5 tyears.

Lecture given by Steve T. Phan, Chief of Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services and Public Information Officer
(Rangers wear many hats these days)

We arrived in time for the last winter lecture, “As Humanity Will Permit, the Closing of Camp Nelson”, thus getting more context and background for the Camp Nelson story. Only in existence 3 years, half of that was it’s “closing.” We spent quite a bit of time in the museum, which was great at telling the story of Camp Nelson and had some interesting “full scale” exhibits showing what it might have been like in the camp. We hiked around the grounds a bit, getting just a taste of how big the camp was (the National Monument is a fraction of what was the camp). We also briefly visited the Home for Colored Refugees Site and the Camp Nelson National Cemetery.

Camp Nelson NM-the White House, the Perry family home, seized by the army for officer quarters
Camp Nelson NM-Museum-Supply Depot
Camp Nelson NM-Museum-representative early cabin which housed many refugees
Camp Nelson NM-Museum-representative later housing for refugees
Camp Nelson NM-Barracks 1, set up representative, with info about a few people who might have quartered here
Camp Nelson NM-Graveyard #1 Marker, one of 4 graveyards here. 217 soldiers were exhumed in 1867 and reburried at the National Cemetery
Camp Nelson National Cemetery-a section with many USCT soldiers interred

And in Lexington, Kentucky

We toured the Mary Todd Lincoln House, walked around historic Lexington, and toured Ashland – The Henry Clay Estate, where we learned so much about Henry Clay. We ended our Lexington day at our 91st Costco…laying in supplies for the next few weeks. We’re heading to West Virginia, one of only 3 states with NO Costcos!

Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington
Mary Todd Lincoln House, the guest room, where Mary and Abe would have stayed, when visiting her parents
Henry Clay Law Office in Lexington
Ashland-Henry Clay Estate in Lexington
Henry Clay Library at Ashland-Henry Clay Estate in Lexington
Garden at Ashland-Henry Clay Estate in Lexington

Hanging out on the Kentucky River

Camping at Cummins Ferry RV in Salvisa, KY (population 410…hence the “More Rural”…that, and all the farms we passed on the way!) It was a little hairy getting here, as the last mile was 1 lane, steep, and curvy. Once here, however, we got a spot backed up right on the Kentucky River, great place to “just hang out”. They also have trails which we checked out, down by the river and up the hill behind us.

Almost down the hill to the campground!
View of the Kentucky River and the trail down by it, from our campsite
Cummins Ferry RV also has a bit of a Marina on the river
Waterfall across the Kentucky River

Yes, this is Bourbon Country and Horse Racing Country, but we checked out neither (not even the International Museum of the Horse in Lexington or the nearby Wild Turkey or Four Roses Distilleries). Oh Well! Have to come back! We also have 2 nearby Historical State Parks to visit next time.