A stone sign reads "Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site" in a grassy, open landscape under a cloudy sky, marking the solemn site where the Sand Creek Massacre occurred. Metal poles and dry grasses stand beside the sign.
An entrance sign is shown at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Eads on Dec. 27, 2019. This quiet piece of land tucked away in rural southeastern Colorado seeks to honor the 230 peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe members who were slaughtered by the U.S. Army in 1864. It was one of worst mass murders in U.S. history. (Russell Contreras, AP file photo)

The true accounts of what transpired on that horrible day in November 1864 are finally being recognized in Colorado history. A peaceful encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho people in what is now southeastern Colorado was attacked by the Cavalry, who killed 230 people — mostly women, children, elders and tribal leaders.

While the massacre has been whitewashed through the decades, there is a growing push to bring light to what happened on that dark day in Colorado history. In addition to the upgrades at the Kiowa County site, funds are being raised for a memorial at the Colorado Capitol.

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Sand Creek

Commerce City, CO, USA (39.80832, -104.933868)
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State History