Black U.S. Army soldiers camped in Tampa during the Spanish-American War, before embarking to Cuba
Hillsborough County hosted over 30,000 troops in 1898, prior to their deployment to Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Among them were Black U.S. Army battalions monikered "Buffalo Soldiers."
The Buffalo Soldiers played a role in rebuilding America after the Civil War concluded in 1865. These troops, which were segregated, patrolled the American frontier and managed a portion of western national parks prior to the official establishment of the National Park Service. Buffalo Soldiers were also responsible for guarding the U.S. mail and for building roads and other infrastructure.
On July 28, 1992, the nation celebrated the first Buffalo Soldiers Day. Though not a federal holiday, it was established by Congress to commemorate the formation of the first all-Black regiments in the U.S. Army in 1866.
The holiday honors the contributions the Buffalo Soldiers made during peacetime and war, as well as their courage and dedication to America.
Historical marker inscription
African Americans have served valiantly in all of America's wars. Although black soldiers fought and died in previous conflicts, they were not permitted to enlist as army regulars until after the Civil War. Organized into separate infantry and cavalry units, the black regiments were assigned to protect settlers in the American West. Native Americans, in honor of the fighting spirit of the African American troops, called them "Buffalo Soldiers."
In April 1898, the United States declared war against Spain. Thousands of U.S. soldiers arrived in Tampa to prepare for an invasion of Cuba. Ten regiments, including two black units, camped on the fringes of the elegant Tampa Heights neighborhood. The Twenty-fourth Infantry was located just north of this marker, while the Twenty-fifth camped to the southeast.
The Buffalo Soldiers fostered pride among local blacks while encountering hostility in Tampa. On the eve of the army's embarkation for Cuba, Tampa was the scene of a serious clash between the black and white troops. Overcoming racial obstacles, the Buffalo Soldiers distinguished themselves on the battlefield in Cuba and the Philippines, earning five medals of honor for valor at San Juan and El Caney.
Marker location
The marker is at the intersection of East Columbus Drive and North Central Avenue, on the left when traveling east on East Columbus Drive.
The Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council and The Tampa Historical Society erected this marker in 1998.
