Wayside: Sacred Memory

A wayside overlooking the valley where bed of the Big Sandy Creek sits

NPS Photo - Teri Jobe

Quick Facts

Amenities

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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Sacred Memory

Sand Creek is a place where culture and history are at the center of controversy, trauma, anger, and forgiveness. A place to reflect on the past as well as the future, the Sand
Creek Massacre teaches powerful lessons about sacrifices and hardships endured by all of our ancestors.

We remember places of unspeakable horror in many ways. The site of the massacre, for descendants in particular, is honored in private and public ceremonies. Spiritual remembrance is deeply embedded in prayer, offerings, and song.

For many, their emotions about the massacre intensify with the knowledge that the majority of people in the village were women, children, and elderly. As many as 375 females may have been present during the massacre. Imagery of women and children - their panic, flight and suffering is overwhelming.

Today, Sand Creek is a place of healing, where spirits of those killed continue to be a part of the living landscape. A place where all people can gather to learn about the past, reflect on the present, and work together to prevent such tragedies in the future.