Camp Taylor, Louisville facts for kids
Camp Taylor is a neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. It's about six miles southeast of downtown Louisville. This area started as a huge military training camp. It was announced on June 11, 1917, and named after former president Zachary Taylor.
For a while, Camp Taylor was America's biggest military training camp. It could house as many as 47,500 soldiers at one time! Before the camp, this area was mostly farmland. The camp's arrival helped the area grow and develop.
After World War I ended, most of the military camp was taken apart. A new neighborhood began to grow in its place. Many of the homes built there were small bungalow or Cape Cod style houses. Soldiers returning from the war often bought or built these homes. Some houses even used wood and other materials from the old military buildings. The city of Louisville officially added this working-class community in 1950.
Contents
Camp Taylor's History: From Military Base to Neighborhood
A Giant Training Camp for World War I
When the United States joined World War I, it needed a place to train many soldiers quickly. Camp Taylor was built for this very purpose. It became a massive training ground for thousands of young men. Imagine a whole city built just for soldiers! It was a very busy and important place during the war.
How the Neighborhood Grew
After the war, the need for such a large camp ended. The buildings were taken down, but the land was perfect for homes. Many people, including soldiers who had trained there, wanted to live in this new community. They built houses, often using materials from the old camp. This is how Camp Taylor changed from a military base into the neighborhood we know today.
Famous Connections to Camp Taylor
A Novel Connection: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Did you know that a famous writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald, was stationed at Camp Taylor? He was a soldier there for a time. He even mentions Camp Taylor in his famous novel, The Great Gatsby. This shows how important and well-known the camp was during its time.
Modern Day: Bellarmine University
Today, part of the land where Camp Taylor once stood is home to Bellarmine University. This university is a private school in Louisville. It's interesting to think that a place once filled with soldiers training for war is now a place where students learn and grow.
