During the tenure of Colonel Charles Young at Sequoia National Park, roads in Giant Forest were constructed, livestock grazers were evicted, and trails were built including a route to Mount Whitney that the National Park Service plans to restore as a national historic trail. Young also took an option on the Marion Griffes ranch in Three Rivers (later the Thorn Ranch on North Fork Drive) but was reassigned so he abandoned his plans to become a local landowner. Memorial
As a tribute to Colonel Young (1864-1922) and his enduring legacy, a three-mile stretch of Highway 198 from Salt Creek Road to the Park’s gate was renamed the Colonel Charles Young Memorial Highway. What distinguished the local dedication ceremony was those who attended now become actors in history — the history of Three Rivers, Sequoia National Park, and the modern-day civil rights movement. Coung Memorial
Shelton Johnson, who has devoted his career as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite National Park to telling the story of the Buffalo Soldiers, told Monday’s gathering that the world is finally catching up to Charles Young.
“Captain Young I like to call him because I’m a historian and that’s who he was when he came to Sequoia,” Johnson said. “He was not just fighting for his country but simultaneously he was fighting for his people.”
To get this highway dedication done it took the cooperation from key stakeholders all across the country from Ohio (Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument) to Washington DC (NPS) to Sacramento (Cal Trans and the State Assembly). The driving force was the Charles Young Foundation. The Foundation’s CEO and Charles Young descendant Renotta Young summed up what that simple green highway sign will mean to all who see it. Colonel Charles Young Memorial
“There will be those who pass the sign and say ‘Charles Young… who is that?’ and they will Google him,” Young said. “Then there will be those who say we know who that is and they will be proud.” Colonel Charles Young Memorial
A long-overdue tribute to an important part of Sequoia National Park history!
I believe I saw Mr. Johnson in a reenactment of the Buffalo Soldier at Lodgepole a few years back. It’s a fascinating part of Black history.
The San Francisco African-American Chamber of Commerce did a nice job in assisting in the effort to get this tribute to Colonel Charles Young.
I am extremely pleased that Colonel Charles Young is being honored again for the contributions he and the Buffalo Soldiers made to the early development of our nation’s second oldest national during the summer of 1903. The first honor was the tree naming celebration for Colonel Charles Young in Giant Forest. I started my research on Colonel Young in 1996 when I visited Sequoia and kings Canyon Park looking for some recognition he and the Buffalo Soldiers made during the summer of 1903. The official at the office informed that there was no recognition of Colonel Young’s work in the park and that’s the way it was. Thanks to a seven year campaign with my church (Trinity Baptist of San Mateo), forty-five letters to politicians, dignitaries, four powerful women and President George W. Bush, a tree naming celebration was held in Giant Forest on Saturday, August 28, 2004. It was a huge public celebration with Colonel Young’s descendants. The celebration was published by: American Legacy Magazine, Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Los Angeles Times and San Jose Mercury Newspapers. I would have attended the Highway Celebration for Colonel Young, but I just learned of the celebration today (Nov 19, 2019). I am sad that I was not informed by park officials or M. Kinard since I have been in contact with both over the years.
I am thankful that Mr. Conway Jones, Mr George Palmer and many other seasoned examples of excellence will join us in Three Rivers soon… 2020 will again provide another opportunity to build together…