Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, Architect's Field Report: Preliminary Park Planning and Brief Condition Assessment of Existing Facilities

Neidlinger, Paul; National Park Service - Intermountain Support Office

This report addresses the condition of the proposed interim facilities at DawsonRanch Headquarters and access to the site Preliminary cost estimates have beenoutlined for an interim facility and operation support. During October of 2004 based upon the request of Alexa Roberts, Superintendent at Sand Creek National Historic Site, Paul Neidinger, Architect from the National Park Services Division of Facilities Management and Historic Preservation Projects of the Intermountain Regional Office-Santa Fe, (NPS-IMRO-SF-DFM) made a site visit to the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site to determine the current condition of existing facilities at the site combine this with an analysis for feasibility of adaptive reuse and/or rehabilitation of existing buildings, roads, utilities, and services. The Sand Creek Massacre site is located in Kiowa County of Southeastern Colorado. The site extends approximately 5 1/2 miles in length and 2 miles in width. Included within the boundary are key features of the massacre, including the Cheyenne and Arapaho village encampment, the sandpits area, area of flight, and the area from which Colonel John Chivington and his troops launched the attack upon the encampment. Not integral but within close proximity is the Dawson Ranch Headquarters which is to be included under National Park Service management. Neidinger discussed with Alexa Roberts Superintendent the outlined strategy for management of the NHS. Part of the interim strategy is to begin National Park Service presence at the National Historic Site; however, currently there is limited development at the NHS and associated properties. An interim facility location under heavy consideration is at the Dawson Ranch Headquarters area, considered to be the only developed area. A developed area within this report means that there is limited vehicular access, existing buildings, and access to the utility grid including electricity and gas. Access to the site Dawson Ranch Headquarters is via approximately 10 miles of unpaved county road, and some ranch road with limited improvement.