It’s still difficult to understand why the Sand Creek Massacre had to happen. I cannot fathom how human beings can be so horribly violent with each other. The site of the Sand Creek Massacre is beautiful, bordered on the south by the Sante Fe Trail and on the north by the Smoky Hill Trail. On the day we were there, it was windy and cool as we walked up the trail to the high look out. Gazing out over the trees that lined the creek, one could imagine the peace turning terribly wrong that morning. As the literature says,

“The effects of the attack reverberated for years, profoundly unsettling the Cheyenne and Arapaho people…cultural traditions destroyed…many families left without providers and children without parents. Thirteen Cheyenne chiefs and one Arapaho chief were killed along with any chance for peace. Despite the condemnation by the US Congress, no one connected with the massacre was ever indicted or tried in military or civilian court.”