Buffalo Soldier Events Announced

Black History Month throughout February marks the kickoff for events leading up to “Texas Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month” in July. The Texas Buffalo Soldiers will be offering educational presentations at historic fort sites, schools and rodeos to increase public knowledge of frontier-era African-American soldiers.

2007 Buffalo Soldier Events:

Austin:

–Feb. 18: “Black Cowboys in Texas: Chronicling History” at Bullock State History Museum
–Feb. 20: “Posting of the Colors” at Texas Travel Industry Association Dinner
–Feb. 24: “8th Annual Heritage Festival at Huston Tillotson University
–Mar. 1: “9th Cavalry on Campaign” at Oakhill Elementary
–Mar. 19-23: “Company A — 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers and First Ladies of Texas” at Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
–TBA: “Sgt. Carl Durrah Memorial Youth Camp” — at McKinney Falls State Park
–July14: “Cowboys of Color Rodeo — Texas Buffalo Soldier Celebration” at the Travis County Expo Center
–July 14: “Austin Capitol Salute to the Buffalo Soldiers” at the Travis County Expo Center
–Oct. 6-7: “Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo” at the Texas Parks & Wildlife Headquarters

Central Texas:

–June 16: “Cowboys of Color Rodeo — Military Celebration” at Heart O’ Texas Fair Complex, Waco

San Antonio:

–Mar. 9: “Not John Wayne Anymore: The preservation and Interpretation of the West Texas Forts” at Texas State Historical Association Conference
–April 27: Battle of Flowers Parade — Downtown San Antonio, daytime parade passes in front of the Alamo.
–April 28: Fiesta Flambeau Parade — Downtown San Antonio, nighttime parade passes in front of the Alamo.
–July 7, 14, 21, and 28: “Texas’ Buffalo Soldiers Month Celebration” at Hemisfair Park
–July 28: “San Antonio Capitol Salute to the Buffalo Soldiers” at Hemisfair Park
–Nov. 11: “Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers Association — Veterans Day Memorial Ceremony” at the San Antonio National Cemetery

Houston:

–Feb. 10-11: “Remember the Maine” at Battleship Texas SHS
–Sept.15: “Cowboys of Color Rodeo” at the Lone Star Convention Center, Conroe

Dallas/Fort Worth:

–Feb. 1-28: Fort McKavett Exhibit at the Doss Heritage & Cultural Center, Weatherford
–Feb. 15: “Life of a Buffalo Soldier” at Doss Heritage and Cultural Center, Weatherford
–April 13-15: Fort Richardson Days 140th Anniversary at Fort Richardson State Historical Site, Jacksboro
–May 26: “Texas Black Invitational Rodeo” at Fair Park Coliseum, Dallas
–June 9: “Downtown Irving Heritage Festival”
–July 4: “July 4th Parade” in downtown Irving
–Sept. 1: “Cowboys of Color Museum & Hall of Fame Rodeo” at the Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth
–Oct. 12-13: “Fort Griffin Living History Days” at Fort Griffin State Park & Historic Site
–Oct. 27-28: “National Cowboys of Color Rodeo Finals” at the Mesquite Championship Resistol Arena

Panhandle:

–Feb. 25: “Black History & Women’s History Celebration” at New Trinity Baptist Church in Morton
–June 1 “Prairie Tea” Texas Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Trail — Trails of the Last Frontier event at Cal Farley’s Girlstown in Sudan
–June 2 “Prairie Tea” Texas Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Trail — Trails of the Last Frontier event at Portales Children’s Home in Portales, New Mexico
–June 23-24: “Last Frontier Heritage Celebration” at Cochran County Park, Morton

East Texas:

–May 12: Mission Tejas Folk Festival at Mission Tejas State Park, Grapeland
–May 18-20: “9th Cavalry on Campaign” at the Texas State Railroad State Park, Rusk

West Texas:

–Feb. 25: Buffalo Soldier Heritage Day at Fort Concho in San Angelo
–Mar. 23-24: West Texas Heritage Days at Fort McKavett State Historical Site, Menard
–April 24-26: Texas Buffalo Soldiers workshop at Lake Brownwood State Park, Brownwood
–Dec. 7-9: “Christmas at Old Fort Concho” at Fort Concho National Historic Landmark
Wichita Falls
–May 8-9: “Buffalo Soldier Encampment” at Lake Arrowhead State Park, Wichita Falls

College Station:

–Feb. 22: “Life of a Buffalo Soldier” at George Bush Memorial Library

About the Buffalo Soldiers: The Buffalo Soldiers were African-Americans of the U.S. Army’s 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments. In Texas, their contributions were especially significant during the Indian Wars of the late 1800s, when approximately 20% of the U.S. Cavalry involved was African-American. It is speculated that that these soldiers’ curly hair resembled that of the American Indians’ sacred buffalo mane, while their bravery and tenaciousness reflected the buffalo’s spirit, hence inspiring the Native Americans to call them “Buffalo Soldiers.”