The first physical marker honoring the Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail is scheduled for installation this weekend at Strawberry Reservoir, marking the continued effort to memorialize the Buffalo Soldiers and their contributions. The Utah Cultural Site Stewardship program in recent years established the map of the Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail that covers 475 miles and shows the important role the Buffalo Soldiers filled in the Uintah Basin. A VisitUtah highlight shares that “Fort Duchesne served as a significant post for the Buffalo Soldiers, particularly the 9th Cavalry, which was stationed there from 1886 to 1903. During this time, Uintah County became home to the second-largest Black population in Utah. For a period between 1890 and 1894, the Buffalo Soldiers were the only military presence at the fort. When the regiment was called to serve in Cuba in 1900, local residents petitioned to keep them stationed at Fort Duchesne, fearing that their departure would be detrimental to the community.” The physical marker being placed in the Strawberry Valley is to remember a major joint military training exercise in 1888 that brought forces from Fort Duchesne and Fort Douglas, including the Buffalo Soldiers. More physical markers are to come to memorialize the Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail.
Practicing military maneuvers at Strawberry Valley.
Photo Cred: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Library
