National Park Service (NPS) units provide unique opportunities for scientific research. Because these areas are preserved and protected, they can be studied as reference points for comparisons with similar, altered environments. Research at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (NHS) contributes to the understanding of the area’s natural and cultural resources. This information is used for planning, management, and sharing with partners and the public.

Research in Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site covers a wide range of subjects including archaeology, geology, soil, fish, birds, plants, and water.Sand Creek Massacre NHS is part of the Southern Plains Network, a group of NPS units with similar ecosystems created by the NPS Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program. The purpose of this program are to inventory natural resources and park ecosystems and monitor these resources to better understand their dynamics.

Scientists with the Southern Plains Network collect and analyze data to gather information that contributes to our understanding of human and ecological processes, and resources in Sand Creek Massacre NHS and other network parks. This information is used for decision making, working with other agencies and partners, and communicating with the public to protect the natural systems and native species of the area.

Several years of research and cooperation between tribes, state and federal agencies, universities, and affected landowners contributed to the establishment of the Sand Creek Massacre site as a NPS unit in 2007. Continued research in Sand Creek Massacre NHS and other parks will expand our knowledge of the resources preserved and protected by the NPS. To apply for a research permit or learn about park research needs, visit the Research Permit and Reporting System website or the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit website.