City/County of San Francisco leading the way to honor Historic CA Buffalo Soldier Trail

2020 Hstoric California Buffalo Soldiers Trail Celebrations will come alive, helping solidify collaborative partners and sponsors, toward supporting California's underserved communities experience San Francisco, Monterey, Yosemite and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks.

Over 500 Buffalo Soldiers cavalry and infantry units are interred in the San Francisco Presidio National Cemetery, many of these men were also America’s first park rangers, enforcing laws, planning and constructing infrastructure projects and working to preserve natural beauty.

Colonel Charles Young, the third African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was born enslaved in Kentucky and died in the British Colony, today's Nigeria.

Then Captain Young worked his way up the ranks to serve as the nation’s first African American national park superintendent at Sequoia National Park.

In 1903, he and his servicemen were integral in helping preserve our precious natural wonders for future generations of Americans.

Our California Buffalo Soldiers Trail Tour showcases their legacy and helps define the National Park Service to this day – even aesthetically. (The iconic, creased hat donned by park rangers owes its heritage to the Buffalo Soldiers.)

Join us celebrate the journey and expand utilization byvubderserved communities visit Yosemite, Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Park.

Year round, we will honor the Buffalo Soldiers and their early and significant contributions to our national parks system through our Junior Ranger Program.

David L. Bernhardt, Secretary of the Department of the Interior joins us in celebrating African Americans’ great contributions to our national identity.

Together, we are committed to educating current and future generations of Americans – and all who visit our national parks, landmarks and memorials – on the stories of those who advanced the cause of human rights and helping America "form a more perfect union."