Tacoma, WA

The Buffalo Soldiers Museum in Tacoma opened its doors in 2012. It honors the legacy of an important but often-overlooked facet of American history: the United States military’s regiments comprised entirely of Black soldiers.

According to a popular story, the term “Buffalo Soldiers” initially came from Native Americans. During World War I, Black soldiers embraced the nickname when the 92nd Infantry Division used the buffalo as the symbol for its unit patch.

The Tacoma museum dates back to 2000, when William Jones, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II, set up a display of memorabilia that he and other servicemembers had collected during their tours. After Jones died in 2009, his daughter Jackie Jones-Hook took over and expanded the museum.