Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument is located in Wilberforce, Ohio, and was established in 2013 to honor the legacy of Colonel Charles Young and the Buffalo Soldiers.
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Summary
Young was the third African American to graduate from West Point and the first African American to achieve the rank of colonel in the United States Army.
One of the main reasons to visit the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument is to learn about the history of the Buffalo Soldiers and the contributions they made to the United States Army. Visitors can take a guided tour of the site, which includes the Colonel Charles Young House and Museum. The museum showcases the life and career of Colonel Young and his role in the Buffalo Soldiers, as well as the history of African American soldiers in the United States Army.
Other points of interest at the monument include the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument Trail, which is a one-mile hiking trail that loops through the monument and provides visitors with scenic views of the surrounding area. The trail is also a popular spot for birdwatching, as the monument is home to a variety of bird species.
Interesting facts about the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument include that it is the only national monument dedicated to the Buffalo Soldiers, and that Colonel Young's house is the first and only home owned by an African American to be designated as a National Historic Landmark.
The best time of year to visit the monument is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the colors of the surrounding foliage are at their most vibrant. The monument is open year-round, however, and visitors can also enjoy winter activities such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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