Project Overview

The City of Boulder is working with Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Nations to develop a collaborative stewardship plan for a unique city open space site with important historical, ecological and agricultural features and a direct connection to the Sand Creek Massacre.

Take a virtual tour of the site to learn more about its important history and resources. Read the latest project memo – which includes the current vision for the property developed in collaboration with Tribal Nation Representatives – that city staff have prepared for the Open Space Board of Trustees.

The Fort Chambers / Poor Farm property is a 113-acre site located northeast of the City of Boulder; it was purchased in 2018 to help preserve lands around Boulder and fulfill open space purposes in the city charter. It is also the likely location of Fort Chambers, where, in 1864, Boulder County men mobilized into Company D and participated in the Sand Creek Massacre and other atrocities against indigenous people.

Given the land's connection to the Sand Creek Massacre, city staff are collaborating closely with Tribal Representatives –including Sand Creek descendants – designated by elected leaders representing the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.


Planning Process

Open Space and Mountain Parks staff extend their gratitude to the Tribal Representatives for providing guidance on the future stewardship of the Fort Chambers / Poor Farm property.

The planning process includes the following steps:

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A timeline of steps for the city's Fort Chambers - Poor Farm project

Project Updates

The current vision for the property, developed in collaboration with Tribal Nation Representatives, is guided by the theme:

"Heal the Land; Heal the People"

Recognizing the site’s history and impacts from previous land uses, such as gravel mining, there is a desire to make improvements that will turn the site into a healing place for all: community members, visitors, wildlife and natural ecosystems:

  • Prioritize restoring the land's ecology, improving wildlife habitat and removing invasive weed species to begin healing the land from the impacts of past land uses.
  • Acknowledge and communicate the role of Fort Chambers and the Boulder community in the Sand Creek Massacre through education and interpretation.
  • Provide space for a "healing trail" to offer healing, contemplation, and reconciliation opportunities.
  • Support and continue agriculture on the land, helping the city preserve agricultural production and protect agricultural lands.
  • Use the historic Queen Anne home and existing farmstead structures on the property to support agricultural operations.
  • Ensure ongoing Tribal Nation-city collaboration on future land stewardship, interpretation and education needs.

Tribal Representatives have communicated to city staff they are not interested in owning the Fort Chambers / Poor Farm property. However, they want to continue providing long-term land stewardship advice and guidance for future education and interpretative materials.

A pond on the city's Fort Chambers - Poor Farm property

Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Representatives have provided guidance to prioritize "healing the land" from past uses, such as gravel mining. That work would include restoring the land's ecology, improving wildlife habitat and removing invasive weed species.

Site Characteristics

This unique property has important historical, ecological and agricultural features. In March 2023, Open Space and Mountain Parks compiled site information in an online format that includes details on:

City staff also compiled in-depth information about the colonization of lands in Boulder Valley, Fort Chambers, Company D and the Sand Creek Massacre.

City-Tribal Nation Collaboration

The City of Boulder honors Tribal sovereignty and conducts government-to-government consultations with Representatives appointed by elected leaders of Tribal Governments that have historic and enduring connections to the Boulder Valley and share agreements with the city. The city recognizes that Tribal Nations are sovereign governmental entities whose special relationship with the United States is recognized under the Constitution of the United States, treaties, Supreme Court decisions, federal laws and presidential Executive Orders.

Given the land's connection to the Sand Creek Massacre, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) staff have prioritized receiving guidance from Tribal Representativesincluding Sand Creek descendantsdesignated by elected leaders representing the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. Throughout this project, the city has collaborated with Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Representatives to:

  • Learn the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe's desired long-term relationship with the land.
  • Understand how best to interpret the land's history and its connection to the Sand Creek Massacre and accurately describe Boulder residents’ role in the massacre.
  • Identify opportunities to incorporate the intergenerational trauma that the Arapaho and Cheyenne Nations have endured from both the colonization of Indigenous lands in the Boulder Valley and the Sand Creek Massacre into Boulder history.

City-Tribal Nation Project Development

The city thanks Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Nation for the opportunity to listen to and learn from Tribal Representatives for this project. The timeline below provides a brief overview of city-Tribal Nation consultations for the Fort Chambers – Poor Farm property.

Tribal Representatives toured the land where Fort Chambers is believed to have stood. Staff and tribal representatives discussed the specific open space purposes in the city charter, approved by city voters in 1986, and how those purposes guide day-to-day and long-term stewardship of city open space. Tribal Representatives stressed that staff should not focus only on Fort Chambers but also communicate important historical events that took place before and after the massacre. Representatives also said it is critical to reflect Indigenous perspectives in how the events and stories are told. Read a staff update for the Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT).

Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) shared information on the city-managed Fort Chambers / Poor Farm property to help inform future property stewardship. "Despite its historical significance as the likely location of Fort Chambers, the land is where Boulder County once operated a "poor farm" between 1902 and 1918. The land also has a Queen Anne Victorian house that has been included in the National Register of Historic Places and has significant agricultural and ecological resources. Read a staff update for the Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT).

City staff provided updates on their collaborative work with the Arapaho and Cheyenne Nations to Tribal Representatives from other Tribal Nations during a March 2023 Tribal Consultation. City staff thanks those Tribal Representatives for supporting Arapaho and Cheyenne Nations during the meeting.

The City of Boulder removed an inaccurate and misleading historical marker that marked the location of Fort Chambers, where Company D of the Third Colorado Cavalry trained before participating in atrocities at the Sand Creek Massacre on Nov. 29, 1864. The city removed the marker from city-managed open space – with support from Arapaho and Cheyenne Nation Tribal Representatives – because it inaccurately states that Fort Chambers was used in an “Indian Uprising” in 1864.

Tribal Representatives visited Boulder and participated in a workshop with city staff to discuss their preferences for the site and their desired long-term relationship with the land. A key guiding theme for the land that resonated with Tribal Representatives and city staff was “Heal the Land, Heal the People” through:

  • Prioritizing future stewardship on ecological restoration and exploring opportunities for indigenous plantings and harvesting by Tribal members.
  • Acknowledging its connection to the Sand Creek Massacre through education and interpretation.
  • Providing space for healing, such as a “healing trail” and areas for reflection and offerings.


Tribal Representatives supported continuing agricultural uses on the property and using the Queen-Anne style house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, to support agricultural operations. There was interest in exploring potential educational uses as well.

Tribal Representatives said they were not interested in owning the Fort Chambers / Poor Farm property but would like to remain involved long-term by providing meaningful input and advice on future land stewardship and education/interpretive materials. Read a staff update for the Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT).

OSMP used Tribal Representative guidance from the July 2023 consultation to start developing a draft “Concept Plan” for the land. Key elements include:

  • Creating a proposed “Healing Trail” and interpretive areas to provide educational opportunities and support programs with themes that include healing, forgiveness, cultural history, ecology and agriculture. The trail could also provide access to indigenous planting areas, connections to water and views of restoration areas. Trail access would be for hikers only so as not to detract from healing and contemplation.
  • Supporting access with improved visitor infrastructure, such as an improved entrance drive to provide safe access for visitors, along with a small parking lot with a bus pull-out to accommodate visitors and groups.
  • Conducting ecological restoration and conservation work, such as enhancing wildlife habitat and removing invasive weed species.
  • Preserving existing agricultural values on the land, using the house and other structures on the property to support agricultural operations. The city and Tribal Nations can also explore possible educational opportunities as a secondary use.
Agricultural operations occurring on the city's Fort Chambers - Poor Farm property

City staff and Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Representatives recognize the importance of preserving existing agricultural values on the land and using the house and other structures on the property to support agricultural operations.

Go Further

Read a broad historical overview city staff have developed to provide community members context on colonization of Indigenous lands in the Boulder Valley, Fort Chambers, Company D and the Sand Creek Massacre. We ask community members to go beyond our broad overview and take time to learn more about the Sand Creek Massacre by: