Camp Zachary Taylor

Camp Zachary Taylor (1917-1921) - A World War I National Army Camp first established in 1917 near Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Named Camp Zachary Taylor in G.O. 95, 18 Jul 1917, after President Zachary Taylor. Abandoned in 1921.

World War I

One of sixteen National Army Training Camps established in 1917 to train World War I draftees. Established 22 Jun 1917 under the supervision of construction quartermaster Major Frank E. Lamphere on a site of about 2,700 acres. The camp was to be "U" shaped with a capacity of over 40,000 troops, it was complete by mid August 1917. In the end the camp included some 2,000 buildings and housed at the peak 64,000 troops. In June 1918 the camp was designated a field artillery replacement depot and became the largest U.S. artillery training camp at the time.

The first commander of the Camp was Brigadier General Wilber E. Wilder who formed the 84th U.S. Infantry Division and began the training of the troops. The 84th was organized 25 Aug 1917, moved overseas in September 1818, returned to the U.S. in January 1919 and was demobilized in January and February 1919 at Camp Zachary Taylor.

At the end of the war the camp became a demobilization center until it was abandoned and auctioned off in April 1921.

Current Status

Now the Camp Taylor area of Louisville, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. The camp headquarters is now Taylor Memorial Park.

USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 2745036

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Location: Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.

Maps & Images

Lat: 38.195556 Long: -85.715556

Multi Maps from ACME
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Maps from Google
Elevation: 531'

Sources:

Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 323
Rinaldi, Richard A., The US Army in World War I - Orders of Battle, page 94

Links:

Camp Zachary Taylor Historical Society

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