During the 1890s, the invention of the bicycle was seen as a new symbol of personal freedom of travel for ordinary people of America without the expense of a horse, carriage, or train. The great bicycle experiment from 1896 – 97 was a US Military transportation test with the 25^th Infantry Regiment from Fort Missoula, MT to St. Louis, MO and traveled through Sheridan County. Join history enthusiast and SCLT boardmember Todd Wold, who will guide you through the Army’s Historic Black Bicycle Corps, known as the Iron Riders, on their 1900-mile ride, the challenges of the western route and the 125^th Anniversary of the ride.

This Explore History program offers open conversation for community members to share their memories or historical information about these sites and events. The Explore History program is generously funded by the Next50 Initiative.

Photo caption: The 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers, in 1897. (Photo: umt010069, Archives & Special Collections, Mansfield Library, the University of Montana).