On a cold, 1864 November morning an encampment of peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho was attacked by troops led by Col. John Chivington. Between 165 and 200 indians were slaughtered. About two-thirds of them were women, children and elderly. Another 200 were injured.

The next day some of the soldiers looted the camp and mutilated many of the bodies.

The attack led to increased indian resistance to American westward expansion. The brutality also led to awareness of the plight of the indians, so eventually they were assimilated into American society.

One on the Cheyenne cheifs at Sand Creek was Black Kettle. At an 1860 peace treaty, he received an American flag with 33 stars. He was told to fly this flag as a sign of peace with the United States. Black Kettle waved this flag during the attack. Black Kettle survived the Sand Creek Massacre, but was killid at a similar winter raid at Washita.

Scene from the overlook showing the sight of the massacre.

There is a one-half mile trail from the visitor center to an overlook of the massacre sight.

We took the walk and stayed on the trail.