DC Exhibit—The Sand Creek Massacre: The Betrayal that Changed Cheyenne and Arapaho People Forever
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 tickets are required.
Resources and Programming
General Commission on Religion and Race
11 Facts about Native People in Society and The Church (Infographic)
Ongoing Acts of Repentance with Indigenous People (Video included)
General Board of Church and Society
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.