Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
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🌙 Which looks the best? On April 8th, 2024 there will be an extraordinary cosmic event. The Total Solar Eclipse won’t be visible again in the contiguous US until 2044. These are the 20 National Park locations that are in the ✨Path of Totality: 1. Amistad National Recreation Area, Texas 2. Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Texas 3. Waco Mammoth National Monument, Texas 4. President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site, Arkansas 5. Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas 6. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, Arkansas 7. Buffalo National River, Arkansas 8. Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri 9. Ste. Geneviéve National Historical Park, Missouri 10. Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Indiana 11. George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, Indiana 12. Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Ohio 13. Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Ohio 14. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio 15. Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, Ohio 16. James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Ohio 17. Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, New York 18. Women’s Rights National Historical Park, New York 19. Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, New York 20. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine
nationalparksguide
1.9K17
I've been to a number of similar national monuments including the President Taft home not terribly far away in Cincinnati. The National Park Service has done a fabulous job of keeping to the structure of the home and still managing to tell the story of a great man. At a time when the nation and the military was still divided along racial lines, Charles Young graduated from the US Military Academy (the third African-American to do so). He was the first black US National Park superintendent and the first black man to achieve the rank of colonel in the US Army. And in fact was the highest-ranking black officer in the Army until his death in 1922. In 1894, he was assigned to Wilberforce College here, one of the Historically Black Colleges, to lead the new military sciences department. When the Spanish-American War broke out, he was promoted to major and commanded the 9th Ohio Infantry Regiment. He went on to serve as the superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant national parks. The museum goes into much depth for Young's 1912 assignment as military attaché to Liberia, the first African-American to hold that post. However when the United States was to enter World War I, he was removed from service due to a "medical issue." In 1919, Young was reassigned as military attaché to Liberia. There is a lot going on here including a short film, a number of exhibits and memorabilia. And it's free. Stop by if you're near Xenia.
Bruce K.
00
We didn't stay long here but it was worth the stop. It’s a temporary site while the original site is renovated. The ranger on staff was very nice. They have a small display indoors in the library building. I have very limited mobility and use a walker and electric scooter to get around. I was able to easily get around. The location itself was difficult to find. The building is behind a seminary. You need to make the first right turn into the parking lot after the seminary. Once you make that turn you can’t miss the building.
Cat Lady
00
This was a cool little NPS site to visit. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is there's just not a lot going on here. It's Charles Young's house and it has exhibits in each of the rooms. But it is not furnished in period style. So, essentially you just go into the house look at the pictures and read the accompanying information. I will say it was very informative and the two rangers who were on duty were super nice and helpful. It does have a little gift shop like all the good NPS sites do.
Chris Collins
00
My husband's and I visited on a Wednesday morning. We watched the film and toured the exhibit. The park ranger was very informative and friendly. Only a few rooms were open as there is a restoration planned to begin in a week or two, so it will be closed for about a year and a half while that happens. It will be interesting to see it afterwards when it returns to how it looked during the years Young lived there in the early 1900's. I was able to get my passport stamp as well.
Jennifer Sommer
00
The ranger was very friendly as soon as I walked in. He had lots of information and was happy to answer questions. There’s plenty of information here, a brief historical video, a gift shop, and passport stamps as it is a national monument. Stopping here will make you reflect on our horrible history and how far we have come because of many individuals such as Charles Young. You won’t spend a lot of time here but you will be glad you came.
Thirteendays
00
Basic Info
Address
1120 US-42, Wilberforce, OH 45384
Map
Phone
(937) 352-6757
Call
Website
nps.gov
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Reviews
Overview
4.5
(100 reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
outdoor
family friendly
accessibility
Description
The Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, a National Monument of the United States, commemorates the life of Charles Young, an escaped slave who rose to become a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and its first African-American colonel.
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