Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, founded in 1983, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education organization located on 170 acres near Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado. The center's mission is to empower present and future generations by making the human past accessible and relevant through archaeological research, experiential education, and American Indian knowledge.

The organization was established on the foundational idea that members of the public could play an important role in archaeological research, welcoming people of all ages to participate in groundbreaking research projects. Crow Canyon maintains a commitment to long-term archaeological research including excavation, survey, and environmental studies to address problem-oriented regional and inter-regional research designs.

The center is recognized as a leader in archaeological research and education, and as an innovator for its involvement with American Indians in research and education program development and delivery, and for partnerships with American Indian communities on mutually beneficial projects.

The Research Institute at Crow Canyon is dedicated to the belief that archaeology can address many of the challenges facing society in the twenty-first century, bringing together an interdisciplinary network of scholars—archaeologists, economists, geographers, sociologists, educators, and Indigenous culture specialists.

The center acknowledges the Pueblo, Ute, Diné, Jicarilla Apache, and Paiute people on whose traditional homelands the institution sits, and incorporates Native perspectives into mission-related programs and projects through initiatives including the Native American Scholar in Residence Program and the Pueblo Advisory Group.