Charles Young Birthplace Cabin

The birthplace of Charles Young, an early African American graduate of the United States Military Academy and the first black colonel in the U.S. Army. Young was born into slavery in Mason County, in 1864. He received an education in Ripley, Ohio where he graduated at the top of his class. In 1883, Young was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York where he later endured hazing and  racial prejudice, but became the third African American to graduate from the prestigious institution. He became a part of the “Buffalo Soldiers”, and later commanded a regiment during the Spanish-American War. He was also the first African American superintendent of a National Park. During the early years of the twentieth century. He served as a military attaché to Haiti, spent time with the 9th Cavalry in the Philippines, and was attaché to Liberia. He was later promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, making him the first African American colonel in the U.S. Army. He died in Liberia in 1922. He was buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Tours available by appointment. Contact the Mason County Judge-Executive's office or the Maysville-Mason County Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information.