Buffalo Soldiers National Museum was founded in 2000 by Vietnam veteran and African American military historian Captain Paul J. Matthews and his wife Barbara Matthews.

The museum’s collection consists of more than 4,500 items displayed through permanent and rotating exhibits covering seven wars spanning over centuries of military conflicts ranging from the Revolutionary War to present day. As the premier venue for the subject matter in the United States and abroad, Buffalo Soldiers National Museum sees 30,000 visitors annually

In October 2022, the museum announced an anchor grant of $2 million from the Kinder Foundation toward the museum’s $13 million “Ready and Forward” campaign. The grant, along with gifts given by Texas Historical Commission, Houston Endowment, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will support the museum’s efforts to repair and renovate the museum facility (the historic Houston Light Guard Armory building), expand and improve its exhibitions and programming, and establish long-term sustainability and an endowment.

In March 2025, Kinder Foundation committed an additional $1.5 million to BSNM’s “Ready & Forward” campaign. This gift supports critical renovations, expanded accessibility, innovative exhibitions, and the 2025 Juneteenth event, ensuring a world-class visitor experience for years to come.