The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is the brainchild of Captain Paul Matthews, Vietnam Vet and Prairie View A&M Graduate. At the BSNM, we preserve promote and perpetuate the history and legacy of the brave men and women who fought bled and died in the defense of America by showcasing memorabilia, artifacts, documents and etc. but most importantly we tell the stories that are often left out. We provide educational programming, arts and theater programming-reenactments, tours onsite and offsite, and more. We have the largest collection of African American Military memorabilia in the nation. I tell people all of the time we are the best kept secret in Houston, with hopes of one day turning this secret into a household topic. I am most proud that in our 18 almost 19 years history we continue to be that hub for military history, we get visitors from all over the World who come specifically to see our exhibitions and that to me speaks volumes about not only the contributions made by African Americans but their influence on American culture.

African Americans have fought in military conflicts since colonial days. However, the Buffalo Soldiers, comprised of former slaves, freemen and Black Civil War soldiers, were the first to serve during peacetime.

Once the Westward movement had begun, prominent among those blazing treacherous trails of the Wild West were the Buffalo Soldiers of the U.S. Army. These African Americans were charged with and responsible for escorting settlers, cattle herds, and railroad crews. The 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments also conducted campaigns against American Indian tribes on a western frontier that extended from Montana in the Northwest to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the Southwest.

Throughout the era of the Indian Wars, approximately twenty percent of the U.S. Cavalry troopers were Black, and they fought over 177 engagements. The combat prowess, bravery, tenaciousness, and looks on the battlefield, inspired the Indians to call them Buffalo Soldiers. The name symbolized the Native American’s respect for the Buffalo Soldiers’ bravery and valor. Buffalo Soldiers, down through the years, have worn the name with pride. Buffalo Soldiers participated in many other military campaigns: The Spanish American War, The Philippine Insurrection, The Mexican Expedition, World War I, World War II, and the Korean Police Action.

Much have changed since the days of the Buffalo Soldiers, including the integration of all-military servicemen and women. However, the story of the Buffalo Soldiers remains one of unsurpassed courage and patriotism, and will be forever a significant part of the history of America.

African Americans have fought with distinction in all of this country’s military engagements. However, some of their most notable contributions and sacrifices came during the Civil War. During that conflict, more than 180,000 African Americans wore the Union Army blue. THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS NATIONAL MUSEUM

Another 30,000 served in the Navy, and 200,000 served as workers on labor, engineering, hospital and other military support projects. More than 33,000 of these gallant soldiers gave their lives for the sake of freedom and their country. Shortly after the Civil War, Congress authorized the formation of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry Regiments: Six all Black peacetime units. Later the four infantry regiments were merged into the 24th and 25th Infantries.

In countless skirmishes and firefights, the troopers won the respect of the Plains warriors who named “Buffalo Soldiers.” African Americans accepted the badge of honor and wore it proudly.

At least 18 Medals of Honor were presented to Buffalo Soldiers during the Western Campaigns. Similarly, 23 African Americans received the nation’s highest military award during the Civil War.

The purpose of the buffalo soldiers national museum (bsnm) is to educate the public and to preserve, promote and perpetuate. The history, tradition and outstanding contributions of america’s buffalo soldiers from the revolutionary war to the present.

Visit the Buffalo Soliders Musuem today to experience the current programs and exhibition such as - *The Reenactor Program - The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is proud to present these very talented, informative actors and the experiences that they take their audience on. *The Outdoor Exploration- This program features monthly outdoor exploration activities for youth ages 10-17. This includes camping, hiking, fishing, horsemanship training and exploring historical sites. This program is sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. *The Civil War Exhibition- Showcasing the Emancipation Proclamation, this exhibit features photos and weaponry depicting life for the African-American soldiers during this period. *The Vietnam Exhibition - This Exhibit honors African-American soldiers with displays of bravery such as medals and patches. Also

included are various maps and photographs from the conflict. *The Artillery Exhibition - This exhibit shows the weaponry and munitions used by the African-American Soldier. This includes rifles, muskets, and cannonballs pulled directly from battlefields. *The WWI & WWII Exhibition - This exhibit displays Buffalo Soldiers who served in World War 1, and their role in the Boxer Rebellion. This exhibit includes communication devices and helmets of the Buffalo Soldier at that time. This exhibit focuses on the life of the Buffalo Soldier during World War 2. Several prominent African-American soldiers. *The Tech Wall Exhibition - This wall contains a variety of farming and hand tools, household appliances, health/beauty items. With items spanning generations, this is a tangible look into the past.

Our tagline here is “More than a Museum,” because we are just that, we have venue rental space for community events, weddings, meetings and so forth but we also are a hub for community discussions, research, dialogue, archives and networking. The Buffalo Soliders Musuem is located at 3816 Caroline Street Houston, Texas 77004 The Exhibit is open as follows: Monday - Friday - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Free Admission on Thursday - 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, and Saturday - 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM They are closed on the following holidays: New Years Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, The Day after thanksgiving, Christmas Day, The Day after Christmas. Pricing: General Admission - $10, Students, Seniors 60+ and Military Families - $5 For more information visit www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com call (713) 942-8920 or email info@buffalosoldiermuseum.com Follow The Buffalo Soliders Musuem on social media: Instagram: @buffalosoldiermuseum Facebook: @buffalosoldiermuseum Twitter: @BSNMuseum

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is the brainchild of Captain Paul Matthews, Vietnam Vet and Prairie View A&M Graduate.