One such story being told will be that of the Negro soldiers of the early U.S. Army.

Bob Moore, a historian of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial for eight years, said the Buffalo Soldiers presentation at the Center of Contemporary Arts, 11 N. Fourth St. in St. Louis, is an exciting and educational event.

The Fort Concho Museum of San Angelo, Texas, and the presenters of its military program have been visiting for 10 years now, he said. They do a good job of telling a historic story in an entertaining way.

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People love the interactive drill presentation and the costumes.

Negro soldiers, also called Buffalo Soldiers, served in the western United States after the Civil War. It is said they were labeled Buffalo Soldiers by Native Americans because their fighting spirit reminded the Indians of the buffalo.

All their battles were not fought on the fields of war. These men fought oppression, rejection and unfair treatment by their own army on and off the battle field.

Historians such as Anthony Powell, a historian from the University of Southern California, will be on hand throughout Black History Month to give presentations and answer questions about what it would be like to be a soldier back then.

They spoke of racism, prejudice and the heartbreak of the little things done to the black man to make him feel that this could never be his country, Powell said. They further recalled the pride of the uniform, the pride of camaraderie, brotherhood, and friendship of black comrades in arms.

Powell’s grandfather, 1st Sgt. Samuel N. Waller, served as a Buffalo Soldier with the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments and the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments during more than 40 years of service in the U.S. Army.

This story and stories like it are valued treasures of American and African-American history. St. Louis visitor attractions present a month of similar activities including lectures, special exhibits, concerts and theatrical plays so everyone can fully appreciate Black History Month.

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The stirring drama of the Buffalo Soldiers will be told at the Center of Contemporary Arts and at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

But the History of the Buffalo Soldiers is not the only part of African-American history to be presented in St. Louis this month.

The St. Louis Black Repertory Company will perform the play called Train is Coming. This play is based on the true story of the journey by a professor and his student choir of nine former slaves.

The Missouri Historical Society, in Forest Park, Mo., will have a series of theater performances. Setting, characters and themes will reflect the days of the Civil War to the sounds of rock n’ roll.

Musical entertainment will also be a part of the celebration. Grammy Award-winning a cappella group Take 6 will perform at Powell Symphony Hall and entertain the crowd with their trademark sound.

Donna Andrews, publicist for the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, said February is not the only month of the year St. Louis highlights African-American History.

St. Louis showcases its proud heritage 12 months a year, Andrews said. This is just one month that all the area and attractions take the opportunity to present that heritage to the world.

For information regarding the Black History Month events in the St. Louis area, call 1-800-325-7962, or check it out on the web at www.st-louis-cvc.com