Before the National Park Service was established in 1916, the @usarmy was responsible for protecting and stewarding the first national parks. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, African American Army troops, who came to be known as Buffalo Soldiers, played key roles in the development of the national park system, where they patrolled the backcountry, built trails, prevented poaching, and served in the roles later assumed by park rangers. ⁣ ⁣ The Buffalo Soldiers served as park stewards in @yosemitenps, @sequoiakingsnps, @glaciernps, and @hawaiivolcanoesnps. Additionally, the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers is recognized at @charlesyoungnps (Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument) in Ohio, which preserves the home of Col. Charles Young (1864-1922). Col. Young, a distinguished officer in the United States Army, was the third African American to graduate from West Point and the first to achieve the rank of colonel. He was also the first African American to serve as a super...