Library of Congress
With the creation of America's national parks in the late 19th century, the need for protection became evident after people began exploiting park resources for commercial gain. As there was no agency in charge of the nation's park lands, the Army was designated to oversee these federal public lands. Many Buffalo Soldiers went on to patrol and protect the early park lands, serving as the first rangers in many of them. Here you'll find the stories of these early park rangers as they performed double-duty, park rangers and army soldiers.
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- Type: Article
- Locations: Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Between 1915 and 1917, six companies of the 25th Infantry were present in what is now Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. In that time, they assisted in investigations of a lava lake at Halemaʻumaʻu, were among the first soldiers to visit Kilauea Military Camp, and constructed the precursor to the modern day Mauna Loa Trail, which still exists today.
Last updated: September 30, 2019