SCLT is excited to unveil a driving/cycling audio tour that celebrates the legacy of the 25th Infantry Regiment Bicycle Corps – better known as The Iron Riders.

The story of these Buffalo Soldiers had largely been lost to history. Thankfully, citizen and professional researchers took an interest in them. The men pedaled through Sheridan County on a 1,900-mile journey as part of the U.S. Army’s Great Bicycle Experiment.

SCLT will preserve this unique history and tell the Iron Riders’ story through a new, innovative driving/cycling audio tour, a first of its kind, funded by a $50,000 African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The new tour will launch this Juneteenth, June 19, complete with a special celebration featuring reenactors from the 10^th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers who will be available for photos and to answer questions.

This special tour unveiling will feature special guests Bobby McDonald, President, Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter of the 9^th and 10^th Horse Cavalry Association; Kevin Smith, Park/Site Historic Specialist, Missouri State Parks; Ms. Nina Amos, President, National Buffalo Soldier 9th & 10th Horse Cavalry Association; Erick Cedeno, Adventurer & “Bicycle Nomad;” Sen. Dave Kinskey; and Sheridan Mayor Rich Bridger.

The tour unveiling will include an American Legion Post 07 Color Guard, the national anthem sung by Beck Bridger, and a short live reading of the Iron Riders Trail tour with tour narrator Kevin Smith and voice actors Ryan Legler and Dan Cole.

This event is free to attend. Refreshments will be provided. Bring lawn chairs and blankets if you would like.

Afterward, the Iron Riders tour will be available on the TravelStorys GPS app.

Following the unveiling, join us at The WYO Theater on Wednesday, June 19, at 6:30 p.m. for a special screening of the soon-to-be-released documentary “The Ride Continues,” which will be held at the WYO Theater in downtown Sheridan at 6:30 p.m. This documentary will air on Nevada PBS this July. This screening will also include documentary shorts “Buffalo Soldiers: Legacy of a Frontier” and “Truth and Dignity.” It will conclude with a panel discussion Q&A with Panel Discussion Q&A with Bobby McDonald, Greater Los Angels Chapter of the 9th & 10th Horse Cavalry Association; Kevin Smith, Park/Site Historic Specialist, Missouri State Parks; Erick Cedeno, Adventurer & “Bicycle Nomad”; and Mike Higgins, researcher who rode route in 2010. A door prize drawing close the night.

These events are not just for history enthusiasts, but for everyone in our community. We invite you to join us and be a part of this celebration of our shared history.

Iron Riders Driving/Cycling History Tour made possible by a $50,000 African American Cultural Action Fund Grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

These programs have been made possible thanks to partial funding from the Wyoming Humanities Council, the Anne and Scott Nickerson Family Foundation, the Orange County Black Chamber Education Fund, and VFW Post #3173.