Buffalo Soldier Museum

Displays inside museum

One of the places we wanted to visit while here in Tombstone is the Buffalo Soldier Museum located inside Fort Huachuca, an active US Army base, located in Sierra Vista at the base of the Huachuca Mountains, about a 15 minute drive south of where we are camping.  We had no idea what to expect or see so the day was an oh-my! day.  After going through the gate and getting directions as to where the museum was, we started driving on the HUGE base - and I do mean HUGE! - passed 2 elementary schools, a Burger King, gas station, hospital, grocery stores, housing, etc.  Got lost, but eventually found the museum.  There are 2 museums to visit housed in 3 buildings.  The museums tell the story of how the fort was established in 1877 as a temporary camp and eventual permanent base and of the military intelligence that is intricate to the armed forces.  Fort Huachuca (Who-ah-chew-cah and means 'thunder' in Apache, they believed weather originated in the mountains) has played a role in national defense since then.  As a matter of fact, this base is the center for all military intelligence development and training for all armed forces in the country.

The Buffalo Soldier Museum is located within the 2 Fort's museums and pays tribute to the African-American men who were trained and fought in the Spanish-American Punitive War of Mexico in 1917 and also in World War I and II.  The term 'buffalo soldier' was coined by the Apache Indians because their curly hair and dark skin resembled the buffalo.  Two regiments were established here and were trained and deployed to various conflicts around the world.

Military Intelligence Museum

The oh-my came from learning about the role the Fort plays today.  The military intelligence that is developed and products developed and tested is mind boggling.  Of course we were not allowed to see any of this, but we did know it was housed in various buildings around the base by watching a movie inside the museum.  One note:  we have noticed high in the sky over the base - we can see it from our campground - a balloon type thing just floating up there.  I asked the guard as we came into the base what it was - he said it monitors the border for activity, a security camera.  The base is located right near the border of Mexico.  And I am sure that this blog will be scanned by their intelligence since I mentioned Fort Huachuca.

And one more thing....the city of Sierra Vista is deceiving.  It boasts a population of 44,000 and the base has approximate population of 135,000! but it doesn't have the big department stores that you would expect for a large city.  Biggest store is a Wally World and JC Penney.  Two main grocery stores, big 3 car dealers, lots of small businesses.  You can drive one hour north and be in Tucson which is where I think they most go for shopping.