Museum: Buffalo Soldiers, A Nation’s History

By Houston History Magazine on July 29, 2014 in Military and War, Museums, Other, Preservation, Race & Ethnicity

By Jessica Denise Mitchell

Today, when anyone can serve in the military regardless of color, religion, or sexual preference, many people tend to forget about a time when African Americans first earned the right to enlist in the military.

Given the name Buffalo Soldiers by Native Americans because of their fierce fighting ability, these African American men fought during the Civil War and opened many doors for minorities who wanted to serve in the armed forces.

Even war movies and history books often overlook the contributions of these trailblazers or reduce comments about them to small blurbs. Unlike pop stars and famous individuals who fought for civil rights, the stories of these men are not always kept alive through television specials or national holidays. When the last of the Buffalo Soldiers dies, who will keep their legacy alive?

Click here to read the full article.

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is located at 3816 Caroline at the corner of Alabama Street. It is open Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Be sure to visit their website and their Facebook page.

: Captain Matthews addresses the crowd at the launch party for the Military Might issue of the Houston History Magazine in May 2014.

: From left to right: Dr. Joe Pratt, Captain Matthews, and Dr. Debbie Harwell.

Click here to read “The Buffalo Soldiers Museum: One Man’s Passion Creates a Legacy for African American Soldiers” by Joe Skeen from Houston History Magazine vol. 7 no. 2.

: The former home of the Buffalo Soldiers Museum.

: Departments of the Army and the Air Force National Guard Bureau, Data on National Guard Armories- Texas, 1952.

: The first four Buffalo Soldiers to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. They are, from left, Lt. Henry O. Flipper, Class of 1877, Lt. John H. Alexander, Class of 1887, Lt. Charles Young, Class of 1889, and Lt. Benjamin O. Davis, Class of 1936.