Fort Chambers Historic Site

The City of Boulder acquired the Fort Chambers / Poor Farm (FCPF) property in 2018 to help preserve open space around the city and fulfill its open space purposes as outlined in the city charter. The development of a site management plan (Concept Plan) for the property was guided by input from the Arapaho and Cheyenne Peoples, aligning with the city’s open space goals.

Significant Ecological and Historical Resources

The site information compiled for the Concept Plan provides a foundation for future planning, documenting the land’s significant ecological and agricultural resources, as well as its historical and cultural importance to the Boulder community.

The Fort Chambers and Sand Creek Massacre

The FCPF property is believed to be the location of Fort Chambers, where nearly 100 Boulder County residents mobilized into Company D in August 1864 and later participated in the tragic Sand Creek Massacre on November 29, 1864. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its historical significance.

Agricultural and Social History

In addition to its military history, the FCPF property was used as a county “poor farm” between 1902 and 1908 and has a long history of agricultural operations, further contributing to its cultural and historical importance.

The City of Boulder’s acquisition of the FCPF property and the ongoing planning process aim to preserve the site’s ecological, agricultural, and cultural heritage for the benefit of the community.