Retrace the Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in National Parks

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Before there were National Park Service rangers, there was the U.S. Army. And within the army, a remarkable unit known as the Buffalo Soldiers had lasting impacts in places still preserved as national parks today. Over a century later, their stories and legacy are interwoven in the fabric of this nation’s history. Delve into their fascinating and inspiring story and retrace the footsteps of the Buffalo Soldiers in these national parks.

THE ORIGINS OF THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS

After the Civil War, black soldiers were able to enlist as regulars, rather than volunteers, in the U.S. Army for the first time. The men enlisted for five years and were paid $13 a month, in addition to room, board, and clothing. For many, this provided a steady salary and the chance to be treated with greater respect.

Then, in 1869, the U.S. Army restructured the troops, a change that included consolidating black troops into two cavalry units and two infantry units. These were composed of black enlisted men led by white officers. The cavalry units served on the western frontier, protecting and assisting with supply and mail routes, and guarding against attacks from outlaws, Mexican revolutionaries, and Native Americans.

Troopers from the 10th Cavalry received the Buffalo Soldiers nickname by the Cheyenne and other Plains Indians. The origin of the name remains uncertain, though some say it was in response to the buffalo-hide coats worn by the soldiers in cold weather; others suggest it referred to the rugged and tireless marching of the cavalrymen. The most widespread account tells that the nickname began because the hair of the black cavalrymen resembled the dark, curly hair of the buffalo.

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