The best camping near African American Civil War Memorial

This 10-foot bronze statue, "The Spirit of Freedom," honors the more than 200,000 African-American soldiers and sailors that fought for the Union in the American Civil War. The memorial sculpture and the Wall of Honor are located in the heart of Washington D.C.'s “U” Street district. They serve as a reminder of the largely unknown and courageous story of the United States Colored Troops (USCT).

The sculpture portrays uniformed soldiers and a sailor on the front and a family depicted on the back. The memorial statue is displayed in the center of a granite-paved plaza with a walking area. It's encircled on three sides by the curved panels of the Wall of Honor. The wall is inscribed with the names of 209,145 USCT on 166 stainless steel plaques arranged by regiment.

The African American Civil War Memorial is an outdoor, self-guided experience that's open 24 hours a day. There is an on-site interpretive wayside panel, but the memorial is not regularly staffed by Park Rangers.

Directly across the street from the memorial is the African American Civil War Museum. It contains displays, photographs, newspaper articles, replicas of period clothing, uniforms, and weaponry of the Civil War. There's a Registry at the museum that documents the family trees of more than 2,000 descendants of the men who served with the USCT. You can easily search the database to find ancestors and relatives that might be registered. The memorial and museum are a great way to learn more about the largely unknown role of African-American soldiers who fought for freedom from slavery during the Civil War.

Explore camping on public campgrounds along the way or on private land through Hipcamp.