Event

The Bicycle Corps: America's Black Army on Wheels

In 1897, the U.S. Army theorized that the newly developed "safety" bicycle could replace the horse as a means of troop transport (after all, tires don't need food, water, or rest). As a result, the 25th Infantry established a Bicycle Corps to test the overall practicality of military cycling.

Twenty African American soldiers put their bicycles, their bodies, and the Army's theory to the test with a 2000-mile ride from Montana to St. Louis, Missouri. Drawing off of numerous photographs, excellent documentation left by unit commander Lt. James Moss, and newspaper articles by a ride-along reporter, this film chronicles their journey.

This showing will benefit Cascade's Major Taylor Project, and will feature a special presentation on Marshall "Major" Taylor, who was just gaining fame as a professional African American bike racer at the same time the Bicycle Corps were making their trek.