Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
Eads, CO Hours and Location

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Our Mission

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I obtain a park entrance pass?

Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

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About this location:

National Historic Site

Operating Hours & Seasons

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Summer Hours

April 1 – November 30: Sand Creek Massacre NHS is open 7 days a week, 9:00 am through 4:00 pm.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Monday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Tuesday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Wednesday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Thursday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Friday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Saturday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Winter Hours

December 1 – March 31: Sand Creek Massacre NHS is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am through 4:00 pm and closed on weekends. Sand Creek Massacre NHS is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Standard Hours

• Sunday: Closed
• Monday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Tuesday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Wednesday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Thursday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Friday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Saturday: Closed

Additional Information View More

• Christmas Day:
• Closed

• New Year’s Day:
• Closed

• Thanksgiving Day:
• Closed

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

• $0.00 – Sand Creek Massacre NHS Entrance Fee
  There is no fee to visit Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.

About

The Sand Creek Massacre – 8 Hours that changed the Great Plains forever

The Sand Creek Massacre: profound, symbolic, spiritual, controversial, a site unlike any other in America.

As 675 cavalrymen came around a prairie bend, the camps of Chiefs Black Kettle, White Antelope, and Left Hand lay in the valley before them. Chaotic, horrific, tumultuous, and bloody, the events of November 29, 1864 changed the course of history.

Directions

The Sand Creek Massacre is located in Kiowa County, Colorado. To visit the site, follow Colorado State Highway 96 east off Highway 287 near Eads, or west off Highway 385 at Sheridan Lake. Near Chivington, turn north onto County Road 54/Chief White Antelope Way or at Brandon, turn north onto County Road 59. Follow these roads to their intersections with County Road W. The park entrance is along CR W a mile east (right) of CR 54 or several miles west (left) of CR 59. Eight miles of dirt/sand roads lead to the

Visitor Centers

Sand Creek Massacre Visitor Center

The park visitor contact station is located at the park, which is eight miles north of the town of Chivington. It provides education and orientation materials and has a sales outlet for educational merchandise.

Weather

Weather conditions at the park vary considerably. Temperatures range from over 100°F in summer to under 20°F in winter. Visitors can expect blowing dust and sand year-round, especially during infrequent storms. Some of these storms produce violent tornadoes or large blizzards, so prepare accordingly.

Permits and Reservations Information