Western Folklife Center in Elko

Located in the historic Pioneer Hotel at 501 Railroad St., the Western Folklife Center is dedicated to preserving the rich culture and spirit of the American West.

With a mission to “use story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world,” the museum “provides a platform for rural and urban communities to communicate and exchange new ideas and avenues of expression,” according to its website.

Headquarters for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Western Folklife Center is the site of year-round entertainment and activities, including concerts, readings, workshops and educational programs for children.

The Folklife Center’s Wiegand Gallery features the work of some of the finest western artists in the world. The Gift Shop is filled with cowboy music, books and memorabilia. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The center is closed on Sunday. For additional information. (775) 738-7508 or (888) 880-5885.

For more information visit the Western Folklife Center website.

western folklife center elko
folklife center
folklife center

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is a week-long celebration of life in the rural West, featuring the contemporary and traditional arts that arise from lives lived close to the land.

Poetry, music, stories, gear, film, photography, food — all contribute to the texture of an event that has become an annual ritual for thousands of people who value the people and cultures that live and work in the West. The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is held each year during the last week of January.

Visit the Western Folklife Center for more information.