New Yosemite tour keeps history of ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ alive

What is more definitively known is that Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th Cavalry and 24th Infantry were garrisoned in San Francisco’s Presidio in 1899, shortly after Yosemite and Sequoia were established as national parks. Seeking to protect the parks’ resources in the era before park rangers, the Army deployed the Buffalo Soldiers to Yosemite and Sequoia to prevent illegal grazing and poaching, discourage timber thieves and serve a host of other functions. Performing admirably despite having little official authority, the Buffalo Soldiers endured long hours in the saddle, separation from home and family, and the overt racism common to the era.

Tauck, a Connecticut-based leader in premium quality guided travel, is highlighting the Buffalo Soldiers and other regional cultural narratives in a new, all-inclusive Yosemite tour, “Yosemite And Sequoia: John Muir’s California.” During the eight-day journey, the tour will tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers in:

* San Francisco. During a visit to the historic Presidio, the tour highlights the Buffalo Soldiers’ roots in the post-Civil War era, their service with Teddy Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders” in Cuba, and their role in the Philippine-American War.