Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
Encyclopedia
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site is a National Historic Site
in Kiowa County, Colorado
, near Eads
and Chivington
in Kiowa County
commemorating the Sand Creek Massacre
. The site is about 170 miles (273.6 km) southeast of Denver and about 125 miles (201.2 km) east of Pueblo
. A few basic park facilities have been opened at this site.
In 1999, archaeological teams from the National Park Service, Dept. of the Interior BLM, Colorado Historical Society and accompanied by Native American observers, made a major archaeological discovery of remains of the massacre site. Large numbers of period bullets, camp equipment, and other items convinced the NPS that they had found the correct site. Subsequent transfers of ownership from the Dawson family, former owners of the property have left the title of the site to the Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes with management to be undertaken by NPS. The National Park Service offers scheduled Ranger-led programs without charge during hours of operation, from 9 am - 4 pm, April 1 - December 1, or by advance appointment in the winter season.
The Historical Site was authorized by Public Law 106-465 on November 7, 2000, in order to "recognize the national significance of the massacre in American history, and its ongoing significance to the Cheyenne
and Arapaho
people and the descendants of the massacre victims." The law authorized establishment of the site once the National Park Service
acquired sufficient land from willing sellers to preserve, commemorate, and interpret the massacre. The site near the junction of County Road 54 and County Road "W" was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on September 28, 2001. On August 2, 2005, President George W. Bush
gave final approval for the site. On April 23, 2007 it was announced that site would become America's 391st official park unit with an effective date of April 27, 2007. The dedication ceremony was held on April 28, 2007.
The authorized boundary for the National Historic Site encompasses 12,500 acres (50.6 km²). By 2004 the federal government acquired 920 acres (3.7 km²) from private land owners. On September 9, 2006 the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma conveyed to the United States title to 1465 acres (6 km²) to be held in trust for the National Historic Site bringing the total area to 2385 acres (10 km²).
National Historic Sites (United States)
National Historic Sites are protected areas of national historic significance in the United States. A National Historic Site usually contains a single historical feature directly associated with its subject...
in Kiowa County, Colorado
Kiowa County, Colorado
Kiowa County is the second least densely populated of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 1,622 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Eads...
, near Eads
Eads, Colorado
The Town of Eads is a Statutory Town that is the county seat and the most populous town of Kiowa County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 747 at the 2000 census...
and Chivington
Chivington, Colorado
Chivington is an unincorporated town in Kiowa County, Colorado, United States. The U.S. Post Office at Eads now serves Chivington postal addresses....
in Kiowa County
Kiowa County, Colorado
Kiowa County is the second least densely populated of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 1,622 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Eads...
commemorating the Sand Creek Massacre
Sand Creek Massacre
As conflict between Indians and white settlers and soldiers in Colorado continued, many of the Cheyenne and Arapaho, including bands under Cheyenne chiefs Black Kettle and White Antelope, were resigned to negotiate peace. The chiefs had sought to maintain peace in spite of pressures from whites...
. The site is about 170 miles (273.6 km) southeast of Denver and about 125 miles (201.2 km) east of Pueblo
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
. A few basic park facilities have been opened at this site.
In 1999, archaeological teams from the National Park Service, Dept. of the Interior BLM, Colorado Historical Society and accompanied by Native American observers, made a major archaeological discovery of remains of the massacre site. Large numbers of period bullets, camp equipment, and other items convinced the NPS that they had found the correct site. Subsequent transfers of ownership from the Dawson family, former owners of the property have left the title of the site to the Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes with management to be undertaken by NPS. The National Park Service offers scheduled Ranger-led programs without charge during hours of operation, from 9 am - 4 pm, April 1 - December 1, or by advance appointment in the winter season.
The Historical Site was authorized by Public Law 106-465 on November 7, 2000, in order to "recognize the national significance of the massacre in American history, and its ongoing significance to the Cheyenne
Cheyenne
Cheyenne are a Native American people of the Great Plains, who are of the Algonquian language family. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taeo'o and the Tsétsêhéstâhese .The Cheyenne are thought to have branched off other tribes of Algonquian stock inhabiting lands...
and Arapaho
Arapaho
The Arapaho are a tribe of Native Americans historically living on the eastern plains of Colorado and Wyoming. They were close allies of the Cheyenne tribe and loosely aligned with the Sioux. Arapaho is an Algonquian language closely related to Gros Ventre, whose people are seen as an early...
people and the descendants of the massacre victims." The law authorized establishment of the site once the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
acquired sufficient land from willing sellers to preserve, commemorate, and interpret the massacre. The site near the junction of County Road 54 and County Road "W" was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on September 28, 2001. On August 2, 2005, President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
gave final approval for the site. On April 23, 2007 it was announced that site would become America's 391st official park unit with an effective date of April 27, 2007. The dedication ceremony was held on April 28, 2007.
The authorized boundary for the National Historic Site encompasses 12,500 acres (50.6 km²). By 2004 the federal government acquired 920 acres (3.7 km²) from private land owners. On September 9, 2006 the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma conveyed to the United States title to 1465 acres (6 km²) to be held in trust for the National Historic Site bringing the total area to 2385 acres (10 km²).
External links
- Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site - National Park Service
- Sand Creek Tours - tours of the massacre site on the Bowen cattle ranch
- The Conservation Fund - Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site