Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
It took 143 years to honor the fallen, but on April 28th, 2007 the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site was dedicated. The new historic site memorializes that massacre of nearly 160 Cheyenne and Arapaho people on November 29, 1864. It is the 391st unit in the National Park System. The park officially opened to the public on Friday, June 1, 2007.
Former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), a Cheyenne descendant of survivors of the Sand Creek Massacre, sponsored legislation that began the process of memorializing the massacre. At the dedication, NPS Director Mary Bomar noted that "the history of this great nation is not complete without an understanding and respect for the tragedies that affect our national consciousness. We hope that when people visit this important national park site, they will learn about and remember the Northern and Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho victims of Sand Creek."
—Felicia Carr
If You Go
Please note that the park has limited hours. Check ahead before you go.
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