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Corinth
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Corinth Contraband Camp
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Corinth Contraband Camp

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See all things to do
Corinth Contraband Camp
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32 reviews
#3 of 16 things to do in Corinth
Historic Sites • Parks
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About
Many African Americans who fled Southern plantations and farms seeking freedom and protection found the Union occupied Corinth to be a secure location. Union General Grenville Dodge understood what effect the defection of thousands of African Americans would have on the Confederate War effort. He began to enlist the escaped slaves who came into his lines as teamsters, cooks, and laborers. He actively recruited male refugees, armed them, and placed them in charge of security at the newly organized contraband camp in Corinth.
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Full view
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
55 within 3 miles
Juju & Crista's Shrimp Boat Cafe
52
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Seafood
Cafe Mike's
24
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub
Brewer's Drive In
3
0.5 mi$
Jojo's Lil' Chicago
1
0.7 mi$$ - $$$ • American
Pizza Grocery
183
1 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • American • Pizza
Vicari Italian Grill
120
1.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options
Blazing Noodlez
78
1.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Thai • Vegetarian Friendly
The Dinner Bell Steak & Fish
96
1.1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Steakhouse
Dilworth's Tamales
31
1.1 mi$ • Fast Food
Tad's Pizza Party
2
1 mi
See all
Attractions
15 within 6 miles
Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
336
1.5 miHistory Museums
Battery F
5
0.5 miBattlefields
Corinth Parks & Recreation
1
0.7 miSports Complexes • Parks
Corinth National Cemetery
31
0.9 miCemeteries
The Crossroads Museum
44
1.2 miSpeciality Museums
Corinth Coke Museum
27
1.2 miSpeciality Museums • History Museums
Verandah-Curlee House
5
1.1 miHistoric Sites
Curlee House
2
1.1 miHistoric Sites
Battery Robinett
14
1.5 miBattlefields
Fillmore Street Chapel
1 miChurches & Cathedrals
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
32 reviews
Excellent
8
Very good
17
Average
6
Poor
1
Terrible
0
ForrealFamilyFun
Saint Louis, MO712 contributions
Freedom's Journey Begins
Mar 2022
The Corinth Contraband Camp is an interesting and thought-provoking memorial. It is the location where freed slaves were organized to prepare them for independent living. Schools, churches, and jobs were established to promote the dignity and confidence of those unshackled from bondage. A large number of troops were recruited from the newly free men.
The camp today is home to a number of statutes which depict the various occupations the freed people used to make a living. It is a short walk around a circular path. The Corinth Civil War Center describes more about this camp so it should be visited to get the full history and context of the Contraband Camp.
Written April 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Timothy S
2 contributions
Beautiful sculptures
Oct 2021
This area was a little hard to locate, but the grounds were well maintained and the pathway around the area easily traversed. The sculptures of the different individuals were very realistic and showed what things were like for the residents at that time. It was a good historical depiction.
Written June 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dewayne P
Elizabethtown, KY1,818 contributions
Start of freedom for so many
Jul 2020
This was a movie stop while we were in Corinth. We came after visiting the Civil War Interpretive Center, so my daughter (8 years old) and I talked about all kinds of topics as we walked around the loop looking at the statues and reading the sign. There is free parking and really doesn't take long to visit, but definitely worth going.
Written July 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Neb688
Kearney, NE46 contributions
Untapped potential
Jun 2022
This site is deep in a residential neighborhood. We did not walk to all the sculptures in the heat of the day. It seems like this site is important enough that it might deserve more of a tribute. The sculptures are nice, but it didn't seem to tell the whole story - after visiting the Civil Rights Museum, it seemed minimal..
Written June 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Patrick A
Cedar Falls, IA508 contributions
Excellent quality bronzes
Feb 2020
The location is a bit odd. It is not a very large place with 8-10 groupings of statues. The place looked stark and plain. More explanation with each group would be helpful. A storm had obviously come through recently with so many down trees that had been cut up so the trail was accessible. But it provided a weird landscape. The statues are so beautifully done, it needs to be seen.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
gw2047
Atlanta, GA124 contributions
Informative and Peaceful
Jul 2021
We visited the Contraband Camp after visiting The Corinth Interpretative Center. It's a very nice park with a short walk, memorial statues and some informational placards. It's very close to the Interpretative Center (5 minute drive) and worth seeing.
Written July 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NewbernTraveler
Newbern, TN805 contributions
Beautiful park that remembers a little-known bit of the African-American Civil War story
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.
Written March 6, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lynette M
Santa Maria, CA253 contributions
Very Sobering Visit and Worth a Stop
Aug 2019
I had no heard of this camp but learned about it while watching the film at the Corinth Battlefield Museum, so we ventured over. There are so many beautiful homes and churches in the area, I wish we would've had more time to explore.
It is quiet and very moving to realize that there was a designated place for those released from slavery to learn, to earn money and to live free in an environment that was specific to their needs.
Written August 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bill R
Murfreesboro, TN21 contributions
Well kept secret about Corinth's role after Battle of Shiloh
Oct 2017 • Couples
I grew up in Corinth and visited for the first time in 15 years. I had never heard of the Contraband Camp until we visited the Interpretive Center. A bit hard to find but well worth the short walk to view
Written October 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
withoutamap1
Oxford, MS125 contributions
Visit the civil war center first
Sep 2016 • Friends
My mom and I recently visited, and I would highly recommend first visiting the Interpretive center. They show a 20 minute video which gives insight into the history of the area as well as the camp.

The camp had some stunning sculptures depicting life at the time, but without knowing about the area and its significance it may not have the same impact.
Written September 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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