Why You Should Visit:
This site will give students a small glimpse into what was happening in Texas during the Civil War. Camp Ford was the largest Confederate Prisoner of War Camp on this side of the Mississippi River. Today, only a small amount of its presence remains, but the county has done a good job of gathering information to tell the story of what was happening here in the 1800s.
Great Field Trip for These Topics:
American Civil War
US History
Where to Begin Your Field Trip:
This is a public park, with a small, but adequate parking lot. Begin at the large, covered, kiosk to get some background information on the camp.
What Can You Expect to See & Do While Here?
After viewing the plaques and infographics at the kiosk, you can follow a walking path around the grounds. The interpretive signs are interesting. Some of the daily activities will surprise you. Have students stop and imagine what life would have looked like for the soldiers captured and brought here.
Camp Ford was not only comprised of Confederate guards and Union prisoners, it was also a refugee for civilians displaced by the war in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri.
A Very Brief History of Camp Ford:
- 1862 (spring) Opened as a Training Camp for Newly Recruited Confederate Soldiers
- 1863 (summer) First Prisoners Arrive, Including Union Officers
- 1863 (fall) A Stockade is Erected after 800 More Prisoners arrive and Threaten Escape
- 1864 (spring) More Prisoners Arrive From Battles in Arkansas & Louisiana and the Camp’s Population Peaks (around 5,000)
- 1865 (spring) Camp Ford Closes
Tips for Visitors
There is a picnic area here if you’d like to pack a lunch. (Whataburger is across the street, should you want to add the iconic Texas fast-food burger to your road trip.)
Tyler, TX has many other field trip destinations and a great state park to check out while you’re here:
Additional Resources
Book: The Civil War for Kids: A History with 21 Activities by Janis Herbert
Book: Civil War on Sunday (Magic Tree House Book 21 )by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca
Book: If You Were a Kid During the Civil War by Wil Mara
Book: You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Civil War Soldier! by Thomas Ratliff
Toy: Safari TOOBS Civil War Soldiers Collections
