Sunset, a Western living and traveling magazine, has named Mesa Verde National Park as a Best Cultural Attraction.

Mesa Verde National Park was selected from four nominees as Best Cultural Attraction. The competition included Portland's LanSu Chinese Gardens, Seattle's Museum of History and Industry and Durango's Music in the Mountains.

"We are thrilled to be named the Best Cultural Attraction in the West by such a prestigious and highly regarded news source," said Cliff Spencer, superintendent of Mesa Verde National Park. "In conjunction with our partner, Aramark, we strive to provide unforgettable experiences to park visitors, offering an opportunity to explore the most notable and best preserved archaeological sites in the U.S."

Founded by the Southern Pacific Railroad to promote travel in the West, Sunset based its selection in part due to the park's concessionaire, Aramark.

"We're delighted that Mesa Verde National Park has been honored as the best cultural attraction in the West," said Aramark spokesperson Bruce W. Fears. "The park offers a unique combination of rich history, natural beauty and outdoor adventure for visitors to enjoy."

Services offered by Aramark include the 700 Years Tour, a journey through the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans. The four-hour tour offers an ideal way to experience the award-winning cultural destination.

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt established Mesa Verde National Park as the first national park created to "preserve the works of man." The park contains over 5,000 archaeological sites built by the Ancestral Pueblo people, who inhabited Mesa Verde from 550 to 1300.