Grassland species such as Henslow’s & Grasshopper Sparrows, Dickcissel & Bobolink.

Camp Nelson National Monument is the first National Monument in Kentucky.  It contains most of the earthen works and forts that protected the northern flank of Camp Nelson, a Civil War depot and recruitment and training center. It contains 380 out of the original 2500+ acres that comprised the camp during the war. The Kentucky River and Hickman Creek palisades naturally provided much of the protection for the western and eastern flanks. The Monument has a Civil War Museum, a restored house that was used by officers during the war, and many miles of interpretive trails.

The US Army established Camp Nelson as a supply depot in 1863, which later grew to become a massive recruitment and training center for African American soldiers and refugee camp for their wives and children. Camp Nelson was a haven for civilians fleeing war, and for enslaved people hoping to secure their freedom and aid in the destruction of slavery.