Frame Size (H x L): 22” x 51”
Pennant Size (H x L): 10.5” x 36” with 4” tassels.

Offered is a rare National Western Stock Show pennant.  Its field and tassels are black.  The verbiage “NATIONAL WESTERN” is positioned above what appears to be a shorthorn calf, and the verbiage “STOCK SHOW” is positioned below it.  The verbiage “DENVER 1914” is positioned in the middle of the pennant.  This is the earliest National Western Stock Show pennant that we have encountered.  It is fantastic in every respect.   

THE NATIONAL STOCK GROWERS CONVENTION | 1898-1906
Following the economic carnage of the 1893 Silver Crash, many Coloradans pivoted from mining to ranching in hopes of restoring their livelihoods.  Per this pivot, the bankers shifted their investments out of ore-processing an into food processing; the railroads shifted from moving ore freight to moving cattle, sheep, hogs, wheat, hay, and sugar beets; and Colorado went from smelling like smelter smoke to smelling like stockyards, canneries, breweries, and mills. 

Despite these pivots, the meatpacking industry in Denver was relatively small, particularly in comparison to those in Chicago, Kansas City, and Fort Worth.  Due to this deficiency in Denver, ranchers either sold their livestock at a discount locally or at retail in one of these larger markets (but with increased shipping costs).  To make matters worse, ranchers in the dry West fed their livestock hay and grass for slower corresponding gains, while farmers in the humid East fed their livestock corn with faster corresponding gains.  For the ranchers to prosper, they needed a stronger market in Denver and hardier cattle in the fields.   

To assist with these objectives and to revive Colorado’s spirit, in 1898, Denver boosters hosted the National Stock Growers Convention (“Convention”).  The Convention began on January 25th, and Governor Alva Adams and Denver Mayor Thomas S. McMurray gave welcoming speeches.  Many prominent agricultural leaders attended the Convention, including James Wilson, US Secretary of Agriculture; Gifford Pinchot, Chief Forester of the U.S. Forest Service; R.M. Allen, Manager of the Standard Cattle Company in Ames, Nebraska; and Colonel Hooker, Arizona’s most prominent rancher.

The Denver Republican described the event as the “Greatest Gathering of the Kind Ever Attempted.”  With similar enthusiasm, the Rocky Mountain News stated, “almost ever stockman of prominence in the West is here on or the way and the attendance from the Eastern states is far better than the most hopeful expected. The hotels are full to the roof and running over, but there seems to be still room at the top, and as yet everyone is being cared for, though late arrivals are compelled to do some hustling to find a bed.”

THE GREAT BARBEQUE RIOT OF 1898
The Convention hosted a free barbeque following the stock show, in what was arguably the most chaotic grill-based riot that the world has ever seen.  In total, the barbeque had six-tons of meat in its inventory, including countless cows, a feast of quails, 2 bears, 150 possums, 4 buffalo from Cheyenne, and 5 elk from Routt County.  To complement the meat, there was 200 pounds of brown sugar, 250 pounds of coffee, troughs of gravy, and innumerable barrels of beer.  While this list of raw ingredients is crude in nature, Chef C.H. Hill’s final menu described the meal more eloquently as bear meat, spiced with south American bay leaves; sugar-cured venison, topped with  fine herbs; mutton, drizzled with mint sauce; and possum, with a side sweat potatoes—not to mention many other interesting, if not tasty, combinations good enough to rival those found at top shelf restaurants.

On the day of the barbeque, the city was essentially shut down to partake therein, and the Chicago, the Burlington, and the Quincy were on an accelerated schedule, such that every 15 minutes a train would depart from Union Station and go to the Denver Union Stockyards.  In parallel, Chef Hill and his team prepared the food, beginning with the cattle and buffalo, which required cooking for a total of 14 hours, turning every few minutes, and basting with large mops every minute.

Organizers expected between 20,000 and 25,000 attendees, the estimate being based on the extensive advertising throughout the city, including in the slums, and further based on the guaranteed draw of free food, particularly of the kind being offered.  In preparation for the crowd, organizers created a perimeter of fencing, corded off the entrances with ropes, and had a boxcar ready to serve as a makeshift jail—just in case.  Before the ropes were even dropped, 30,000 people surrounded the barbeque and slowly moved in on the dinner and the perimeter surrounding it.

Sensing conditions ripe for a riot, terrified waiters threw hunks of meat and loaves of bread to the crowd, while police and state militia troops did their best to hold the perimeter.  In doing so, they responded with force, some even going so far as to strike attendees with sabers and clubs.  Despite this, the crowd continued inching forward.  Soon thereafter, a rope failed, the crowd rushed the perimeter, and chaos erupted.  The crowd—specifically, the portion thereof that newspapers described as hoodlums who would consider pork and beans a delicacy—began looting the makeshift kitchen by taking large quantities of meat, barrels of beer, and various utensils, including 1,000 steel knives and forks; 2,000 tin cups; 50 large white platers; 25 galvanized iron pails; 20 steel flesh hooks; and 100 cleavers, hatchets, and carvers.  To make matters worse—while all of this was happening—Edward “Kid” Calkins, a cattleman from Grand Junction, fought and killed Claude J. Wilson by breaking his neck on the foot rail of the bar.

The newspapers blamed the chaos on improper planning, and they were particularly critical of the decision to distribute free ticket into the city’s slums.  The organizers were unphased.  Later that same day, they were already planning the following year’s Convention and barbeque.

WESTERN LIVESTOCK SHOW | 1906-1908
In 1906, the Convention became the Western Livestock Show.  In 1906, it was held in a circus tent, and in 1907 and 1908, it was held in what was referred to as a monster tent.  The monster tent was heated with coke braziers; decorated with flags and buntings; complemented with the aromas of straw, hay, and feed; and filled with the sounds of cattle, horses, announcements, and a brass band known for its rendition of “There’ll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight.”  Even in these early years, the expectations of the organizers, participants, and attendees were not just met, but exceeded.

NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW | 1909 AND BEYOND
In 1909, the Western Livestock Show became the National Western Stock Show or, for short, the National Western.  The National Western was, and still is, held in the National Amphitheater, its first proper structure.  The National Amphitheater was a massive structure for the time, measuring 250’ by 350’ and capable of seating 6,000 people.  It was designed in a neoclassical style with pedimented entries framed by twin towers.  It was lit be large flaming arc lamps and skylights, and livestock stalls were located under the seats. 

The Stockyards surround the National Amphitheater.  The Denver Union Stock Yard Company built the Stockyards in 1886, and by 1905 the Stockyards covered 105 acres and annually handled over 230,000 cattle; 115,000 hogs; 300,000 sheep; and 22,700 horses and mules.  In many ways, the Stockyards are the heart of the National Western, in that, that is where most of the livestock is kept and many of the deals are made.  Additionally, the Stockyards are a distinctive aspect of the National Western, as compared to the facilities of its counterparts, such as the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville and the American Royal in Kansas City, both of which are held mostly indoors and apart from stockyards of any kind.   

Just like in its early days, the National Western is still considered the best show of its kind.  In 2020, the National Western lasted 16 days, and over 700,000 people attended its many different events.

Conservation Process: This pennant was hand sewn to cotton fabric, and both were hand sewn to a mounting board. To prevent the black dye in the cotton fabric from seeping into the pennant, it was first washed in a standard wash and then in a dye setting wash.  The pennant is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic.

Frame: This pennant is in a distressed black and silver frame.

Condition Report: As shown in the images, this pennant exhibits some toning.  But overall, it is in excellent condition and looks great.

Collectability Level: The Great – Perfect for Rising Collectors   
Date of Origin: 1914