corinth contraband camp

The National Park Service has done another outstanding job with this small park. It consists of, perhaps, two city blocks in area with a leisurely walkway around the periphery that features a half dozen wonderful, life-sized bronze statues of escaped slaves who found a new life and are starting on their long road to freedom. It is a very moving place.

This is basically a park with a circular walk among tall trees, alongside of which you find bronze statues of figures who you might have found in the camp in the civil war days. But the statues show both gravitas and whimsy, and are educational in their way.

You should make sure to include this in your visit to Corinth. So much history here. Stop here after you've visited the Civil War Interpretive Center.

If you enjoy history, make this a stop next time that you visit Corinth, MS. You will learn about the former slave camp and see very good replica's of camp life in the many statues that line the short circular walkway.

The site of the village where emancipated slaves lived and worked during the occupation of Corinth during the Civil War is now a quiet walking area with many lovely statues depicting the lives at the camp.

Adjacent to the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center and part of the National Park Serive Shiloh National Military Park unit. Excellent to learn about the involvement of Northern Mississippi and Southern Tennessee in the war

The contraband camp is one of several places in the Corinth area that are Civil war sites.I really wanted to visit this site because the story of slaves and the impact of the Civil war had on their lives often isn't highlighted.I would suggest to visit the Corinth Interpretive center first before heading to the camp. There is a section in the center that highlights the contraband camp and give info about the camps overall. While there are no actual photos of the Corinth camp, photos of others are.There is also a map showing the camp area and including an additional area which the camp was extended to.The camp is about five minutes from the Interpretive center.The camp is set in a park with a small trail. Along the trail are bronze figures showing people who lived in the camp (washer women, educators, soldiers,etc)I was let down that nothing is there beyond the bronze figures. Plaques telling the history, about the daily lives, the formation of the 1st Alabama Infantry regiment of African descents, the interaction between the ex slaves and the Union army need to be told.While I'm glad for the site, more needs to be done in order to tell a side of the war not often told.

I don't know what we were thinking this would be but it was only a small park area with bronze statues. It would have been helpful to have some background on what happened there. We did go to the interpretive center and that did tell of the slaves lives but something more should be at the contraband camp site itself.

Great stop while in Corinth. allow about 30 minutes or so to walk through. Start at the interpretive center though so you will know about camp. there isnt info posted. start walk between concrete markers-however to the left near exit is a tree with a brochure on it. we didnt see it until we were leaving. it is a bit hard to find but we enjoyed driving looking for it. the area is so small you wont have to look long,

This park is on the spot where a camp for runaway slaves was established during the civil war era. It is a beautiful, peaceful place with a few statues and displays. There are several benches to sit on as you walk around this park.

Many people do not know the story of African-Americans during the Civil War, but this park in Corinth, Miss. brings out an interesting chapter in their saga. Along a concrete walkway, a visitor can see life-size statues depicting the ways that escaped slaves, who gathered in Corinth, in 1862-63, attempted to begin to live free lives. Included are the basics of life, like farming and maintaining a home. Other statues depict learning to read, the importance of religion and helping one another, and finally the African-American men who went off to war to fight for the freedom of others. It's a simple park, with a couple of bronze plaques at the entrance that tell about the place that was here. This was a story I had never heard, but was glad I found out about. Interpreting the Civil War in Corinth is in a modern way. It's more than just the military. Civilians and slaves were a part of it, too. The only thing is, I wish they had plaques talking a bit about what each person depicted is doing more. It is, however, not a major drawback, and I found the park to be a very peaceful place to visit.If you do not know the Corinth area well, you will need to start at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center. The Contraband Camp is hard to find, being off the main road in a residential area. There are no signs until you see the park's entrance, and you will need a map available at the main interpretive center (there are signs to that). Contraband Camp is best approached from U.S. 72. City maps available online aren't to scale, so if you try to reach this direct while coming in from the Shiloh battlefield to the north, get ready for streets that aren't well marked in places. From South Parkway on U.S. 72, it involves a right turn onto one street and then a left turn on another, cross a railroad and you are there. The interpretive center mentioned is great in itself, telling the story of the war from both a military and non-military perspective. There is no fee for Contraband Park. If you are interested in African-American history, this park is worth the effort to find.

Get your directions from the Civil War Interpretive Center if you need them but this is well worth the visit. The thought of these people that were enslaved and then freed without any real preparation brought tears to our eys.