What Is Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument?
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument preserves the Young family home near the Wilberforce University campus!
What Makes It Historical?
Teaching and military service were the big themes of Charles Young’s life almost since birth! His father escaped slavery and joined the 5th Regiment, U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery in 1864, and his mother pushed him to get a good education in their new home of Ripley, Ohio! He was a teacher before taking the entrance exam for West Point Military Academy in 1883, and though he scored second highest on the exam, he was denied admission, probably in favor of a white candidate. Luckily for history, the candidate ahead of him dropped out, and he entered West Point on June 10, 1884!
Being African-American in the military was not easy! For starters, only white men were allowed to lead military divisions until the Port Chicago Disaster on July 17, 1944, so much of Charles Young’s early military career was spent in training. He spearheaded the Military Sciences & Tactics courses at Wilberforce University and led their marching band until the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898!
After the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine, Charles Young took control of training units of “Buffalo Soldiers,” who got their name from Plains tribes because of their curly hair and ferocity in battle! During the Spanish-American War, he served as Major and Commander of the Ninth Ohio Battalion, U.S. Volunteers and fought with distinction during the conflict with the Philippines! He saved an ambushed unit while fighting Pancho Villa in the Battle of Agua Caliente! He later served as a military attaché, or diplomat, to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Liberia, and continued to train troops into World War I!
Charles Young also served as the first African-American superintendent of a national park! He and the Buffalo Soldiers were responsible for building roads into the Giant Forest and Moro Rock of Sequoia National Park! Though medically retired from the military in 1917 at the rank of colonel, he rode 500 miles on horseback from Wilberforce to Washington, DC to argue against retirement with the Secretary of War! He continued to train recruits and serve as an attaché until 1922 when he got sick and died in Nigeria. At first, he was buried there, because of a technicality in British law, but today, he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer at Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument!
- Donate to Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
1120 US-42
Xenia, OH 45385
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit the Park?
Tours of the monument are available by appointment only, so contact the park to make that happen!
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