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In 1897, more than 20 Buffalo Soldiers trekked 1,900 miles from Fort Missoula, Montana, to St. Louis, Missouri, by bicycle. The “Iron Riders” as they came to be known, pedaled through Yellowstone National Park and Sheridan County on the way.

The 25th Infantry Regiment Bicycle Corps — a group of Buffalo Soldiers better known as “The Iron Riders” — ascend terraces at Mammoth Springs in Yellowstone National Park. (Montana Historical Society/Haynes Foundation Collection)

On June 19th — the Juneteenth holiday which marks the day in 1865 when the U.S. Army declared enslaved people in Texas to be free — the Sheridan Community Land Trust will celebrate the legacy of the 25th Infantry Regiment Bicycle Corps with the unveiling of a new driving/cycling audio tour and reenactors from the 10th Horse Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers. The event at the historic Sheridan Inn, in Sheridan will also include a 6:30 p.m. screening of the documentary, The Ride Continues, at the WYO Theater.

For more information, visit the Sheridan Community Land Trust website.

Dustin Bleizeffer covers energy and climate at WyoFile. He has worked as a coal miner, an oilfield mechanic, and for 26 years as a statewide reporter and editor primarily covering the energy industry in...

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  3. They may have “peddled” (try to sell (something, especially small items) by going from house to house or place to place.) during there epic journey on heavy, rigid bikes where there were not any roads, in wool army uniforms, but what I really think you mean is “pedalled”. Either way, it is an amazing bit of history showing that the recent rediscovery of bike packing is built on the shoulders of a some very tough people.

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  4. Kudos to the Sheridan Community Land Trust and the town of Sheridan for supporting the Juneteenth holiday and acknowledging a part of their local history about which many of their residents and residents throughout the state may be unaware. The Bicycle Corps history is amazing.

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  5. Interesting – prompted me to look up and watch a short video on how they came about and why. Thanks for bringing another overlooked part of US History, and in this case out Military history, to my attention! I learn more and more important history every Juneteenth – which is both good and sad.

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