The National Western Center is proud of its founding partners’ commitment to advancing the mission of the National Western Center. These organizations committed to developing a new vision for a future campus in 2014, and continue to help shape the future of the site into an exciting year-round destination.
Founding Partners
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City and County of Denver
The City and County of Denver has been spearheading the redevelopment efforts for the National Western Complex and Denver Coliseum site since Mayor Michael B. Hancock took office in 2011. In 2016, Mayor Michael B. Hancock created the Mayor’s Office of the National Western Center to lead the capital build of this innovative campus and provide support for the developing Authority as this vision becomes a reality.
The National Western Stock Show (NWSS) is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization that provides college and graduate level scholarships in agriculture and medicine for practice in rural areas. It is our mission to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier stock show and nationally recognized western heritage and entertainment event.
The NWSS is one of Colorado’s preeminent tourist destinations and is held each January for 16 days. The annual event is considered the Super Bowl of livestock shows, as it hosts nearly 20 breeds of cattle throughout the 16-day run. The event includes one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, world-class equestrian shows and Colorado’s largest agricultural trade show – all of which attracts more than 660,000 guests each year. The Stock Show welcomes attendees from 45 states and 30 countries demonstrating not only national but international influences in agribusiness and western heritage. The Stock Show’s annual economic impact for the City & County of Denver and nearby communities exceeds $100M annually.
The Colorado State University Campus at the National Western Center will stand up three buildings focused on water, human and animal health, and sustainability. Within the buildings CSU will conduct world-class research and convene experts from around the globe; students of all ages will engage with science and have opportunities for exploratory learning; partners will join in programming the space and bring evolving content to the year-round campus.
As Colorado’s land-grant university, CSU’s mission of research, service, and access, fits with the outreach mission of the National Western Center. At the National Western Center, the university will focus on experiential learning opportunities for P-20 students, and research that addresses the world’s greatest challenges.
The university has begun initiating academic, service, and outreach programming in coordination with local schools and organizations before buildings are constructed, as part of its commitment to the area. Such efforts reflect programming that could take place at the future CSU Campus at the National Western Center. Learn more at nwc.colostate.edu.
History Colorado's mission is to inspire generations to find wonder and meaning in our past and to engage in creating a better Colorado. We serve as the state's memory, preserving the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through our museums, educational programs, historic preservation programs, research library, collections, and outreach to Colorado communities. As a founding partner or The National Western Center, History Colorado is committed to the goals of strategically aligning education, economic development and tourism and entertainment uses in one location to celebrate and honor the history of the Stock Show, and the Western heritage of Colorado and the West.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science exists to be a catalyst and ignite our community’s passion for nature and science. The Museum is the Rocky Mountain Region’s leading resource for informal science education and offers a wide variety of engaging exhibitions, programs, activities and scientific research to inspire public appreciation and understanding of the wonders of Colorado, Earth and the universe.
At the National Western Center, the Museum is committed to engaging our local community, visitors and others to offer programming that connects people to science and nature in ways that are meaningful to them. The Museum partners with the City of Denver, Colorado State University and the National Western Stock Show to engage with people at the National Western Center site.