Around the turn of the last century more than 400 African-American soldiers patrolled Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. The Buffalo Soldiers were African-American cavalrymen who in 1903, shortly after their return from the Philippines and the Spanish-American War, found themselves garrisoned at San Francisco's Presidio with no assignment. This turned out to be the right place at the right time, for Yosemite had been declared a national park in 1890. The government decided to use the Army to protect Yosemite and the people who used the park from each other.
And so begins the story of one soldier, Elizy Boman, and his experiences of being in Yosemite at the turn of the century, as performed by Yosemite park ranger Shelton Johnson.
Yosemite Theater LIVE! operates April through early November 2013. For information regarding show times, please check the current issue of the Yosemite Guide.