Camp Claiborne Louisiana WWII Army Camp

Alexandria and Central Louisiana were the center of the massive Louisiana Maneuvers staged just prior to World War II. A major focal point in the maneuvers was Camp Claiborne.

I remember driving the abandoned roads of the camp and stopping to shoot BB guns into some of the abandoned warehouses during the late 1950s. I remain fascinated by the history of this camp, and have total respect for the men and women that served there.

The camp was situated in Rapides Parish about 18 miles south of Alexandria, off the intersection of US165 and present day La 112, just north of the town of Forest Hill.

The other major area Army facility, Camp Livingston, was northeast of Alexandria.

Other Alexandria area military facilities included Alexandria Army Air Base, Camp Beauregard, Esler Field and Camp Polk, as shown in the map below.

This section of the Alexandria Retrospective gives an overview of Camp Claiborne, organized as follows:

• Camp Claiborne's history
• its impact on Alexandria and its citizens
• the camp today
• historic postcards of the camp
• photographs and artifacts
• links to more detailed resources and About This Site

The former Camp Claiborne area is now under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service which provides various recreational opportunities via a series of trails and other facilities.