Cultural Landscape Report: Camp Nelson National Monument

WLA Studio; McBride, W.

This Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) is for Camp Nelson National Monument (CANE) located twenty miles southwest of Lexington, Kentucky, in the north-central portion of the state (Figure 1.1). The 464-acre site is situated in Kentucky’s Inner Bluegrass region, which is characterized by its karst geology, picturesque rolling hills, sinkhole depressions, and the palisade cliffs along the meandering course of the Kentucky River. The property was the location of Camp Nelson—a US Army supply depot, hospital, refugee site, and US Colored Troops (USCT) recruitment center during the Civil War (1860-1865). After the war, the US Army dismantled and abandoned the site (1866-1868), and previous owners reoccupied the property and resumed farming the land. The community of Ariel/Hall developed in the area previously occupied by the Home for Colored Refugees. Per the Scope of Work, this project consists of an updated CLR Parts I and II, according to the format and contents outlined in A Guide to Cultural Landscape Reports Contents, Process and Techniques (1998). This CLR will (1) describe the historical development of the areas; (2) document the existing site conditions; (3) provide analysis of the landscape’s potential National Register significance; (4) identify and assess integrity of character defining features; (5) determine appropriate treatment strategies; and (6) develop treatment recommendations that facilitate preservation of these resources, address park management concerns, and inform ongoing and proposed facility development. This CLR includes National Register level significance evaluation. The evaluation is based on existing National Register documentation for Camp Nelson, including the National Register nomination (2001) and National Historic Landmark (NHL) documentation (2013). Camp Nelson National Monument is part of the Camp Nelson Civil War District and the Camp Nelson Historic and Archeological District. The National Register nomination states that the district is eligible for listing under Criteria A and D and Criteria Consideration D. Criteria Consideration D is applicable because of the inclusion of Camp Nelson National Cemetery and Hall Cemetery in the district. These cemeteries are outside the CLR study area and national monument boundary. The Griffing family cemetery is included in the national monument boundary. The areas of significance are Military – Civil War, Archeology: Historic – Non-aboriginal, and Ethnic Heritage – Black. The National Register and NHL nominations identify the period of significance as 1863 to 1866. This cultural landscape report uses the NHL period of significance for the evaluation of contributing and noncontributing features. Based on analysis of historic condition and changes to the landscape since the period of significance, the Camp Nelson National Monument cultural landscape retains sufficient integrity to the period of significance to convey its historic association. The cultural landscape retains integrity of location, setting, feeling, and association to the period of significance.

Cultural Landscape Report: Camp Nelson National Monument

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