# Buffalo Soldiers Museum

A Hilltop museum on the Black Army regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers, founded in 2000 by a veteran of the 10th Cavalry. Visits are by appointment.

Canonical URL: https://tacomairl.com/places/buffalo-soldiers-museum/
Section: places
Area: Hilltop
Published: 2026-11-06
Last fact check: 2026-11-06
Status: Not marked closed; check official information
Location: South Wilkeson Street, Hilltop
Address: 1940 South Wilkeson Street, Tacoma, WA, 98405, US
Official information: https://www.buffalosoldierstacoma.org/
Visiting: By appointment. Call 253-272-4257.

In 1904 the Army held maneuvers at American Lake, in what is now DuPont, and Buffalo Soldiers took part. Visit Tacoma-Pierce County says those maneuvers helped the Army choose the site that became Fort Lewis, now Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The museum on South Wilkeson Street keeps memorabilia from them.

William Jones, who served with the 10th Cavalry during World War II, founded the museum in 2000. Its formal name is the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum. After his death in 2009, his daughter, Jackie Jones-Hook, became executive director, and in 2012 she moved the museum to its Hilltop location.

## Inside

The museum has six rooms. One traces the path from slavery to African Americans joining the U.S. military.

## Nearby

The [Tacoma Armory](https://tacomairl.com/places/tacoma-armory/) is also on Hilltop, on South Yakima Avenue.

## Sources

- [Buffalo Soldiers Museum: home page (address, appointment visits, phone)](https://www.buffalosoldierstacoma.org/)
- [Visit Tacoma-Pierce County: Buffalo Soldiers Museum, February 9, 2018 (founder, 2000, 2012 move, rooms, 1904 American Lake Maneuvers)](https://www.visitpiercecounty.com/blog/post/buffalo-soldiers-museum-an-often-overlooked-tacoma-treasure/)