Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument

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Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument, KY is the location of the Civil War Battle of Mill Springs.

The Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument was the location of the Battle of Mill Springs (also known as Battle of Fishing Creek and as Battle of Logan's Crossroads) in January 1862.

Hear the boom of cannon fire, see history brought to life, and discover the stories of soldiers and civilians at Mill Sp...
10/23/2026

Hear the boom of cannon fire, see history brought to life, and discover the stories of soldiers and civilians at Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument.

Join us on Saturday, November 7, 2026, for the 4th Annual Living History Event: Conflict at the Crossroads. The living history camp will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages can enjoy:
• Cannon and musket demonstrations
• Special presentations and talks
• Guided battlefield tours
• Living history exhibits and activities

Come learn about the Battle of Mill Springs, one of the earliest major Union victories of the American Civil War. This year's event will explore the experiences of both soldiers and civilians, with a special program highlighting the 9th Ohio Infantry Regiment.

This event is family-friendly and free to attend.

For parking, use Last Stand Hill (Driving Tour Stop 3), located at 1221 State Highway 235, Nancy, KY. Please note that there is a short walk from the parking area to the encampment.
Accessible parking is available at Zollicoffer Park, located at 960 State Highway 235, Nancy, KY.

For a complete schedule of activities, visit our event page:
https://www.nps.gov/misp/planyourvisit/events.htm

We look forward to seeing you there as history comes to life at Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument!

Image description –
Artillery gun crews firing two cannons on a foggy field. Text reads Special Event, Conflict at the Crossroads, Saturday, Nov 7, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm. NPS

Join our team at Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument, located in Nancy, Kentucky!We are hiring seasonal park rang...
10/20/2026

Join our team at Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument, located in Nancy, Kentucky!

We are hiring seasonal park rangers, maintenance workers and a maintenance worker lead.

Park Ranger (Interpretation): develop and deliver engaging interpretive and educational programs, answer visitor questions, and inspire stewardship of the park's natural, cultural, and historic resources.

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/888838400
Apply Oct 19 – Oct 23 or the first 1000 applicants. So don’t wait.

Maintenance Workers: Help maintain trails, grounds, facilities, and historic landscapes while preserving a Civil War battlefield. Gain valuable experience, work in a beautiful setting, and make a difference for visitors every day.

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/888432200
Apply Oct 19 – Oct 27

Image 1: Ranger giving a talk with 3 visitors in a field with a cannon in the background. NPS
Image 2: Two maintenance workers building a wood fence on the battlefield. NPS

Today marks the 210th birthday of General George Henry Thomas, who at age 45 commanded Union forces at the Battle of Mil...
07/31/2026

Today marks the 210th birthday of General George Henry Thomas, who at age 45 commanded Union forces at the Battle of Mill Springs on January 19, 1862.

Born in Southampton County, Virginia, on July 31, 1816, Thomas graduated from West Point in 1840 and chose to remain in the U.S. Army when the Civil War began, becoming a leading Southern Unionist. His victory at Mill Springs led to his promotion to Major General in April 1862.

This 1862 carte‑de‑visite portrait likely shows the same Brigadier General’s coat he wore at the time of the battle. The coat’s buttons appear in pairs—signifying a Brigadier General—while his shoulder boards display two stars, marking his new rank of Major General. The mismatch suggests his tailor had not yet completed an updated uniform when this image was taken.

Alt Text: A historic black‑and‑white carte‑de‑visite photograph of a man dressed in a U.S. General’s uniform with the inscription “Maj[or] Gen[era]l Thomas Com[man]d[in]g 14th Army Corps.” Image credit: Courtesy of NPS/Held.

Join us tomorrow, July 25, 2026, at the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Visitor Center in Nancy, Kentucky for...
07/24/2026

Join us tomorrow, July 25, 2026, at the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Visitor Center in Nancy, Kentucky for Civil War artillery demonstrations (cannon firing) at 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm eastern time.

These free programs last 20 minutes and safety messaging is given to the public before firing demonstrations.

NPS Photo.

Alt Text: A photo of NPS volunteers in U.S. Civil War uniforms firing a bronze 6lb cannon.

07/03/2026

Here at Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument, we celebrate our ongoing efforts to preserve the battlefield’s historical appearance!

Thanks to the Legacy Restoration Fund, young adult interns are replacing deteriorating fencing with historically accurate stacked red cedar split rail fencing. This effort restores the cultural landscape’s integrity, reduces the operational costs of maintaining the fence, and provides the next generation of park stewards with valuable hands-on training in traditional trade skills.

Join us in giving kudos to our youth crew for their hard work in installing the new fence!

To learn more about the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund visit: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/infrastructure/gaoa.htm

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, join us tomorrow, July 4, 2026, at the Mill Springs ...
07/03/2026

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, join us tomorrow, July 4, 2026, at the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Visitor Center in Nancy, Kentucky for Civil War artillery demonstrations (cannon firing) at 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm.

These free programs last 20 minutes and safety messaging is given to the public before firing demonstrations.

NPS Photo.

Alt Text: A photo of NPS volunteers in U.S. Civil War uniforms firing a bronze 6lb cannon.

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHERThe artillery program scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, June 27th has been cancelled due to a fo...
06/26/2026

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

The artillery program scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, June 27th has been cancelled due to a forecast of rain and thunderstorms in the area for most of the day.

There are still two dates scheduled to view this amazing program at Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument!

The King of Battle: Artillery Drill and Firing Demonstrations
Dates:
July 4, 2026 – 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm
July 25, 2026 – 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm

Alt Text: A photo of NPS volunteers in blue U.S. Civil War uniforms firing a bronze 6lb cannon.

This year as we reflect on Juneteenth, we are reminded that when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect in 1863,...
06/19/2026

This year as we reflect on Juneteenth, we are reminded that when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect in 1863, it did not grant freedom to all enslaved people in the United States. As a loyal slave state not in rebellion to the Union, Kentucky was excluded from the Emancipation Proclamation. Not until the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 were all enslaved people in Kentucky forever free.

On Friday, June 19, 2026, National Park Service staff will be opening the Brown-Lanier House for the 2026 summer season. In the 1800s, enslaved people lived and worked on this property and in its vicinity. We invite you to come out and walk where they walked and to put yourself in their shoes, and also imagine what would you have thought as the Civil War raged around you? Would it give you hope? What would you have thought of the Emancipation Proclamation if it didn't grant you Freedom, but it did to millions of others in bo***ge?

Alt Text: Image of the historic Brown-Lanier House in Wayne County, Kentucky, surrounded by green foliage in front of a blue sky. Image credit: Held/NPS.

In celebration of National Go Fishing Day, we have a fishing tip from Major General George Bibb Crittenden, who commande...
06/18/2026

In celebration of National Go Fishing Day, we have a fishing tip from Major General George Bibb Crittenden, who commanded Confederate troops at the Battle of Mill Springs, from "The Kentucky Gazette" newspaper, November 22, 1876. (We do not recommend or endorse this fishing advice):

"Of Interest to Anglers –
We are authorized to state, says the Frankfort Yeoman, upon the experience of Gen. George B. Crittenden, of this city, who is well known through this region as one of our most ardent disciples of “old Isaak Walton,” that two tablespoonfuls of salt, put into an ordinary minnow bucket, will keep minnow alive for an indefinite period of time – certainly for three or four days – as he has proven by several actual experiments. This information is imparted for the benefit of fishermen of whom there are so many in Kentucky and elsewhere in the Union, and will certainly prove most valuable to them."

Alt Text: A historic photograph of a striped bass on a plate.

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHERThe artillery program scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, May 23rd has been cancelled due to a for...
05/22/2026

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

The artillery program scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, May 23rd has been cancelled due to a forecast of rain and thunderstorms in the area for most of the day.

Luckily, there are still three dates scheduled to view this amazing program at Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument!

The King of Battle: Artillery Drill and Firing Demonstrations
Dates:
June 27, 2026 – 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm
July 4, 2026 – 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm
July 25, 2026 – 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm

Alt Text: A photo of NPS volunteers in blue U.S. Civil War uniforms pointing a bronze 6lb cannon.

Address

9020 West Highway 80
Nancy, KY
42544

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16066364045

Website

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