On July 28, 1866, Congress passed legislation establishing the first peacetime all-Black regiments in the regular U.S. Army, the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry Regiments. These soldiers were later given the nickname “Buffalo Soldiers,” a name rumored to have been bestowed by the Native tribes they encountered on the Western frontier, as a mark of respect for their fierce, disciplined fighting spirit. The exact origin remains debated, but the name has endured as a badge of honor.

Despite facing discrimination both within and outside the military, these soldiers served with distinction. Each July 28th, we honor their legacy of courage, sacrifice, and service, a legacy that lives on through the work we do every day at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum. Join us in celebrating the men who paved the way.