Museum of Northwest Colorado

The Museum of Northwest Colorado features local, regional and traveling exhibits and is home to the world renowned Cowboy & Gunfighter Collection.The Cowboy and Gunfighter Museum housed within the Museum of Northwest Colorado showcases Mr. Bill Mackin's collection of nearly 1,000 "working cowboys" artifacts. This collection is a world renown accumulation of practically 50 years of effort and enjoyment by Bill.

Memorabilia from Edwin Johnson, Colorado Governor and Senator is on display at the Museum as well.

The Museum of Northwest Colorado began as the Moffat County Museum in 1964. Until 1990, it was housed in the Moffat County Courthouse. In 1991 it opened at its new location at 590 Yampa Avenue in the former Colorado State Armory.

At present, our building has been almost totally renovated and restored. This was made possible with excellent support from Moffat County. Also, from 1990 to 1996 grants received towards this project have totaled $155,400 from the following: Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Colorado Historical Society, and the Gates Foundation. In 1992 the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum's operational budget is approximately $150,000 per year, which is currently funded by Moffat County. The building plus the museum's permanent collection is now valued at more than $1.1 million.

Cowboy and Gunfighter Collection

This is the result of the fifty year effort of Bill Mackin to gather and preserve fine, old cowboy gear. The chaps, spurs, saddles, gun leather, guns and other accoutrements represent one of the world's outstanding collections of western Americana. It is the basis of his own book, "Cowboy and Gunfighter Collectibles" (available from Museum Gift Shop). Parts of the collection have been featured in numerous other publications. The collection is displayed on the second floor of the museum in its entirety.

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