Buffalo Soldiers in California

Many have heard the Bob Marley song, "Buffalo Soldier", and know little else about the term or real existence of African American soldiers who helped establish National Parks in California such as Yosemite and Sequoia.

In 1866, Congress created a handful of segregated regiments that became known as "The Buffalo Soldiers." According to National Parks Service, the nickname probably started on the Western Frontier with Cheyenne Indians, who thought the hair of the Black soldiers resembled the fur of the buffalo. Buffalo were revered by tribal leaders so any comparison between men and buffalo was considered high praise. African Americans became feared and worthy opponents.

The U.S. Army protected California’s first national parks before National Park Service was established in 1916. Soldiers from San Francisco Presidio spent the summer months blazing trails, constructing roads, creating maps, evicting grazing livestock, extinguishing fires, monitoring tourists, and keeping poachers and loggers at bay in Yosemite and Sequoia. Buffalo Soldiers of the 24th Infantry and 9th Cavalry were among those assigned to work in the parks in 1899, 1903, and 1904. Eventually, segregation ended and these legendary units were disbanded.

Advertisement