Camp Nelson

A couple Mondays ago after getting the chance to have lunch with my good friend, Carrie, in Danville, I decided to stop and take a look around Camp Nelson off US 27 in Jessamine County. The camp is divided into two parts: the cemetery and the historic park. I stopped first at the historic national cemetery; a resting place for heroic veterans dating all the way back to the Civil War.

Having two grandfathers that served in World War II, epic American pride and a slightly twisted affinity towards cemeteries, it was a place that I was pretty excited to visit. It was a lovely resting place on a windy hilltop in Kentucky complete with its regal military layout. A place that makes you aware of the sacrifice that freedom requires.

Camp Nelson was an outpost on the western frontier during the War Between the States (a nod to my Southerness considering it was a Union post) that was most notable for its large number of African-American troops. I made my up to the history focused part of the camp which is a jump up the road from the cemetery. Unfortunately, I was five minutes late for the last tour that was already in progress so that will be a post for another day.

Both places are open to the public and free of charge and basically open dawn 'til dusk. Just be aware there is a tour schedule (which I was not).

Lexington History Museum

Thursday I took a trek with my brother, Parker, and sister, Meredith to the Lexington History Museum located in the historic old Lexington Courthouse. It was a welcome indoor activity after outdoor plans were thwarted by the heat or so we thought until we found out the museum was only half air conditioned. For some reason the first floor exhibits were closed that day but the floors two and three held enough to keep us entertained for a few hours. One of the biggest parts of the museum is mostly architectural bits salvaged from renovations all over the city. One of the biggest things I took away from the museum was how bad the 60s and 70's were for buildings downtown; going through massive urban renewal definitely a very unique cityscape replacing it with parking lots and generic buildings. Other features were the World Equestrian Games art exhibit and a black and white photographic exhibit of African American life in the area. Less exciting things were the IBM typewriter journey through time We and a mediocre train display (which was sad sad 'cause I have a soft spot for trains). We did see a lot of neat things about the city but it might be more fun done in connection with the Lexington Farmer's Market on a Saturday that a trip unto it own. It may had been more fun with a guided tour with someone to really tell us what we were looking at.

Tours are self guided and free.

McConnell Springs

Today my brother and I set out on a real LEXploration to McConnell Springs. We made a detour on our way back from visiting a church in Versailles. I decided to make it one of my first stops in Lexington, fitting because it's where Lexington's first settlers were. Trevor's driven past it many times and never ventured in so when we drove through a run down, industrial part of Lexington I was taken aback and thought this was going to turn out bad. You literally have to drive through an asphalt company to get there. Then suddenly, you pull up to this beautiful stone building, walk through the gates and enter this little restored piece of nature. Trevor and I walked almost all the trails in about an hour through the restored woodlands down to the springs. These beautiful artesian springs come up out of the ground flowing with beautiful water in the middle of a black locust grove. Lots of benches along the way would make it a perfect place to relax and maybe have a little lunch. I can't believe this is in the middle of downtown, industrial Lexington.

I loved this place!

For more info http://www.mcconnellsprings.org/

The left photo is of "The Blue Hole" which is a 15 foot deep sinkhole that the first spring comes out of. The photo on the right is of the water as it makes it's way to the final sinkhole before it disappears under the ground again.

Admission is free.