Sand Creek Massacre Exhibit to Open in DC

General Board of Church and Society

WASHINGTON — In the early morning hours of November 29, 1864, the Third Colorado Cavalry, made up of 675 men under the command of Colonel John Chivington, a Methodist minister and political opportunist, attacked a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho encampment in the bend of Big Sand Creek located in southeastern Colorado Territory.

The attack lasted for eight hours, resulting in the deaths of approximately 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people, most of whom were women, children, and the elders.

As expressed in Resolution #4263, United Methodist Response to the Sand Creek Massacre, the United Methodist Church acknowledges its historic failure to uphold the values of the gospel in the events leading up to, during, and following the massacre.

As spiritual descendants, we commit to a continued journey of truth-telling, repentance, and healing in relationship with the descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre.

The Sand Creek Massacre Exhibit

The General Board of Church and Society and the General Commission on Religion and Race are honored to host The Sand Creek Massacre: The Betrayal that Changed Cheyenne and Arapaho People Forever, an exhibit developed by History Colorado together with the three Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

The exhibit will be on display in the United Methodist Building in Washington, D.C., from November 10 to December 1, 2025. We invite you, your congregation, and your community to visit the exhibit to learn more about this tragic chapter in U.S., and Methodist history.

Admission is free, but timed-entry tickets are required.

  • The United Methodist Building is open Monday to Friday from 9:00-5:00 PM.
  • The first-timed entry is at 9:30 AM and the last timed entry is at 3:30 PM.
  • The United Methodist Building is closed for Thanksgiving on November 27 & 28, 2025.

RESERVE YOUR TICKET

Sand Creek Spiritual Healing Run

Established in 1999 by descendants of the survivors of Sand Creek, this annual 173-mile relay run/walk honors those who were killed and seeks to promote healing. The route, which stretches from the massacre site to the State Capitol in Denver, follows the path taken by soldiers returning to Denver after the massacre.

The Healing Run serves as both a memorial for the victims and a powerful call to raise awareness through active, positive commemoration.

To support the Healing Run, donate here.

If you have questions about the Sand Creek Spiritual Healing Run, please contact Rev. Bich Thy (Betty) Nguyen at bnguyen@mtnskyumc.org.

Additional Sand Creek Massacre Programming and Resources

General Board of Church and Society

  • The General Board of Church and Society is also excited to offer the 2025 Fall Called Seminar Webinar Series, “The Sand Creek Massacre Remembered: Truth-Telling as a Path to Healing,” on November 18 and November 20, 2025, from 2:00–3:15 PM (ET). Details to follow.
  • The Pages for Progress resource, “Witness at Sand Creek: The Life and Letters of Silas Soule” by Rev. Dr. Nancy Niero, will be available in early November 2025. This guide is designed for personal reflection or small group book study.

General Commission on Religion and Race