Colonel Charles Young and the Buffalo Soldiers' National Park Service Connection

As Planet Aid continues to celebrate Black History Month, we honor environmental trailblazers.  Among these pioneers is Colonel Charles Young, who, with the help of the Buffalo Soldiers, helped shape  U.S. landscapes and protect its natural treasures.  His remarkable achievements continue to inspire environmentalists and conservationists today.

Colonel Charles Young: A Pathbreaker in Conservation

Born in 1864 in Mayslick, Kentucky, Charles Young overcame extraordinary odds to become a distinguished army officer, educator, andleader. Rising to the rank of colonel—one of the highest positions held by a Black man in the United States Army in the early 20th century—Young broke barriers both in service and in stewardship of America’s wild places. In 1903—as a captain in the army— he made history as the first African American superintendent of a national park, serving as acting superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant National  Parks in California.

Young’s leadership and vision left a lasting imprint on the future National Park Service and the national parks he helped protect.  Young showed unwavering commitment to public service, academic excellence, and environmental protection, despite facing racial discrimination throughout his career. His work ethic and devotion to duty made him a role model for generations to come.

The Buffalo Soldiers: Pioneers of Park Preservation

Colonel Young’s legacy is inseparable from the story of the  Buffalo Soldiers—African American cavalry regiments who played a pivotal role in the early years of the national parks. Nicknamed by Indigenous peoples for their courage and resilience, the Buffalo Soldiers were tasked with defending the Western frontier. Their service extended far beyond the battlefield: they fought wildfires, apprehended poachers, and built roads, trails, and infrastructure that laid the foundation for modern park management.

Under Young’s command in 1903, a company of Buffalo Soldiers managed Sequoia and General Grant National Parks,  performing many of the duties we now associate with park rangers and building critical access roads and trails into Giant Forest and other areas. Their contributions are a vital but often overlooked chapter in American environmental history.

A Lasting Impact

Today, the legacy of Colonel Charles Young and the Buffalo Soldiers endures in every corner of our national parks, from the roads and trails they carved to the ranger traditions they helped establish. Their courage and determination paved the way for greater diversity in environmental leadership and conservation. 

The Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument is located in Wilberforce, Ohio, and is managed by the National Park Service. The monument also includes Youngsholm, which is the house purchased by Colonel Young. 

Photos from the U.S. National Archives/Youngsholm photo by Nyttend - Own work, Public Domain