In October 2018, President Donald Trump ordered the creation of the 380-acre Camp Nelson National Monument in Jessamine County, Ky., to honor black troops who fought in the Civil War. Established in 1863 by the Union, Camp Nelson became the nation’s third-largest recruitment center for black soldiers.
According to the National Park Service, the site offers insights into stories of the black soldiers who spent time at Camp Nelson.
“Thousands of enslaved African Americans risked their lives escaping to the camp, located within the slaveholding state of Kentucky, with the hope of securing their freedom and, ultimately, controlling their futures by contributing to the destruction of slavery,” states the monument’s website.
Visitors can view films about Camp Nelson and take guided tours around the camp to experience a recreation of the war barracks and the life of a Civil War soldier.
This was the first time Trump exercised the president’s power under the Antiquities Act to create a national monument. In December 2017, Trump used the act to downsize the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments in Southern Utah. — By Jamie Tews
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
English Language Learning in Appalachia
Learning English is always difficult. But current aggressive approaches to immigration policy are creating more barriers for learners and the programs that serve them than ever before in Appalachia and beyond.
Pike County Rejects Mega Landfill
Many residents of Pike County, Kentucky, are breathing a sigh of relief since county commissioners finalized their decision to rescind a contract with an out-of-state waste management company.
Overdrive: Fossil Fuels in Appalachia
Electricity demand is on the rise. Here, we share snapshots of energy trends in the region and how methane gas, coal and data centers are affecting our communities — and how people are pushing back.
Less Support for Communities with Mine Problems
The Trump administration issued a regulation to weaken the Ten Day Notice process that helps community members call in federal enforcement when state regulators don’t do a good job policing environmental problems at coal mines
Chaos at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Cuts to Public Input
The past year has brought turmoil and uncertainty to the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public power provider, and its more than 10 million customers across the Tennessee Valley.
Landmark Coal Ash Protections Under Attack
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to eviscerate important, hard-won regulations on coal ash, a toxic waste left after burning coal for energy.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment