The Buffalo Soldiers were some of the first African-Americans to serve in the regular U.S. Army and became heroes for the role they played in American history, famously charging up San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt’s rough riders and fighting bravery in the Indian Wars, but what few people know is that they eventually ended up in Monterey and what they built might surprise you. “It’s a very unknown history locally that people don’t know, that the Buffalo Soldiers were actually here,” said Jordan Leininger, an artifacts specialist with the city of Monterey. Right now, there is a small sign above the Presidio Museum telling the story of the Buffalo Soldiers and how they arrived in Monterey to help construct the newly commissioned Monterey Military Reservation, known now as the Presidio of Monterey but Leininger wants more and is working on a new exhibit at the museum.“I’m hoping that it shows the public, especially the African-American community, that this history is not lost and forgotten, that it is here and we want it to be open to everyone. We want to share that,” said Leininger. The 9th Cavalry of the Buffalo Soldiers arrived in Monterey in 1902. There were no barracks at the time, and while it was being built, roughly 425 men were segregated from the white soldiers and forced to camp near what is now Hopkins Marine Station. According to Leininger, this kind of unfair treatment was not uncommon. There were times when the Buffalo Soldiers were protecting communities they, themselves, were not allowed in.“There are instances where the Buffalo Soldiers (were) protecting communities, they’re camped outside of these communities because they’re not allowed in there, and they’re protecting them from Indians, bandits, you know, any trouble at that time but then locals will (would) ride their horses around the camp, shooting into the camp trying to kill and harm these soldiers who are protecting them.”Leininger says the Buffalo Soldiers stayed at the camp until the barracks were built. They also trained horses and competed in sports against other military units before heading to Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Park to patrol for poachers and trespassers. The Buffalo Soldiers became known as the first park rangers.“They built the first marked trail in a national park and did that all in the summer, came back and then shortly after their arrival back to Monterey in November of 1904, they were shipped out. They were here for a short time, but they did a lot and made a local impact back then.” The Buffalo Soldiers were reassigned and left the Presidio of Monterey in 1904. While only here for a brief time, their impact is something Leininger hopes will always be remembered.The exhibit will include artifacts, clothes and pictures to help bring the story to life, but Leininger is still looking for more photos, letters, military orders, or anything pertaining to the Buffalos Soldiers time here. As for the exhibit, Leininger is hoping for it to be open in a couple of months. The Presidio of Monterey Museum is currently open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Docents are hand to give tours and answer any questions.
The Buffalo Soldiers were some of the first African-Americans to serve in the regular U.S. Army and became heroes for the role they played in American history, famously charging up San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt’s rough riders and fighting bravery in the Indian Wars, but what few people know is that they eventually ended up in Monterey and what they built might surprise you.
“It’s a very unknown history locally that people don’t know, that the Buffalo Soldiers were actually here,” said Jordan Leininger, an artifacts specialist with the city of Monterey.
Right now, there is a small sign above the Presidio Museum telling the story of the Buffalo Soldiers and how they arrived in Monterey to help construct the newly commissioned Monterey Military Reservation, known now as the Presidio of Monterey but Leininger wants more and is working on a new exhibit at the museum.
“I’m hoping that it shows the public, especially the African-American community, that this history is not lost and forgotten, that it is here and we want it to be open to everyone. We want to share that,” said Leininger.
The 9th Cavalry of the Buffalo Soldiers arrived in Monterey in 1902. There were no barracks at the time, and while it was being built, roughly 425 men were segregated from the white soldiers and forced to camp near what is now Hopkins Marine Station. According to Leininger, this kind of unfair treatment was not uncommon. There were times when the Buffalo Soldiers were protecting communities they, themselves, were not allowed in.
“There are instances where the Buffalo Soldiers (were) protecting communities, they’re camped outside of these communities because they’re not allowed in there, and they’re protecting them from Indians, bandits, you know, any trouble at that time but then locals will (would) ride their horses around the camp, shooting into the camp trying to kill and harm these soldiers who are protecting them.”
Leininger says the Buffalo Soldiers stayed at the camp until the barracks were built. They also trained horses and competed in sports against other military units before heading to Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Park to patrol for poachers and trespassers. The Buffalo Soldiers became known as the first park rangers.
“They built the first marked trail in a national park and did that all in the summer, came back and then shortly after their arrival back to Monterey in November of 1904, they were shipped out. They were here for a short time, but they did a lot and made a local impact back then.”
The Buffalo Soldiers were reassigned and left the Presidio of Monterey in 1904. While only here for a brief time, their impact is something Leininger hopes will always be remembered.
The exhibit will include artifacts, clothes and pictures to help bring the story to life, but Leininger is still looking for more photos, letters, military orders, or anything pertaining to the Buffalos Soldiers time here.
As for the exhibit, Leininger is hoping for it to be open in a couple of months. The Presidio of Monterey Museum is currently open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Docents are hand to give tours and answer any questions.
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