A Soldier Soiree: Honor In Color

About this event

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum will mark its 25th anniversary with A Soldier Soirée: Honor in Color on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at The Ballroom at Bayou Place, 500 Texas St., Houston, TX 77002. The evening will bring together supporters, community leaders, veterans, and friends of the museum to celebrate a quarter-century of preserving Black military history and to launch the museum’s grand reopening following its renovation.

The Soirée will be built around an experience rather than a banquet format, the evening draws on the culture, discipline, and spirit of those who served. From the moment guests arrive, they are inside the story, surrounded by décor, cocktails, and spirits inspired by military favorites, and desserts crafted with the same intention as the program itself.

“For 25 years, our supporters have decided these stories matter enough to fight for, to fund, and to share with the world,” said Desmond Bertrand-Pitts, CEO of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum. “This Soirée is our declaration that these stories will be told with the excellence, intention, and pride it has always deserved, and our way of thanking everyone who is helping us build what comes next.”

Founded in 2001 by Vietnam veteran and military historian Captain Paul J. Matthews, the museum grew from his 30-year effort to collect and preserve Black military memorabilia. What began as a mission to honor the Buffalo Soldiers has become a living institution dedicated to the full breadth of the African American military experience.

“Twenty-five years ago, I began with my personal collection and the hope of creating a space where the lives and experiences of men and women who served could be shared and appreciated,” said Captain Matthews. “The Soirée is our chance to thank everyone who carried that conviction forward with us.”