Reno
ON A FINE SPRING DAY in 1928, Reno held a great municipal celebration at the railroad tracks in honor of paving the two-lane highway over Donner Summit to California. As the band burst into a brassy ragtime, and the bankers, bootleggers and other leading citizens beamed with pride, neon letters on the new iron arch spanning Virginia Street blazed with light for the first time. “RENO,” they bragged against a downtown skyline of Edwardian brick, “The Biggest Little City in the World.”
The iron arch is gone now, replaced by a brighter version, jazzier than the Jazz Age original, and Reno’s golden age of society divorcees, bootleg whiskey and basement gambling rooms is gone with it.
Modern Reno dates from another fine spring noontime, almost 50 years to the day after that gaudy little celebration, when an enormous tan tower rose 26 stories from its bright, light-bejewelled base on an enormous asphalt pad near the edge of the airport, far from the city center.
The $131,000,000 MGM Grand Hotel greeted every incoming flightto Reno-Cannon International the same way the old arch greeted every train at the railroad depot downtown.
But Reno’s not so little any more and the 1928 slogan’s saucy tone doesn’t suit the complex Tesla-flavored city it is still becoming. The great hotels, as splendid as they are, are no longer the whole story. As the city has spread out, its neighborhoods have become more diverse, more interesting and more welcoming.
100 West Plumb Lane, Reno, NV 89509, USA
5105 Sun Valley Blvd, Sun Valley, NV 89433, USA
1650 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89503, USA
490 South Center Street, Reno, NV 89501, USA
Reno Events Calendar
Reno River Festival
The Reno River Festival returns June 12-13 with a celebration of all things local. The heart of downtown Reno will transform into an outdoor destination featuring local craft beer, local food, local craft vendors, and local musical acts. Riverfest will look a little different this year, but it is packed with all things summer […]
Find out more »Reno Rodeo
Welcome to the Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West! Everyone loves a cowboy, are we right?! The rodeo is THE place to see and be seen. Featuring 10 days and nights of the best rodeo competition in the country with over 750 professional athletes. Enjoy all of the fan favorites, including two world-class team roping […]
Find out more »Sierra Arts Festival 2021 – Reno
SIERRA ARTS FESTIVAL Showcases Artists’ Work Art Exhibit and Sale Sierra Arts Festival 2021 celebrates local artists in downtown Reno with an all day outdoor, open air art market, music, family friendly entertainment, a beer garden, local food trucks and packed activities. Sierra Arts Foundation and Artech with the support of generous community donors including […]
Find out more »Hot August Nights in Reno & Sparks
Every August, the streets of Virginia City, Reno and Sparks vibrate with the sound of muffled rumbles of rebuilt engines, rays of sunlight glinting off the polished chrome and heavy scents of Dapper Dan hair pomade fill the air. Droves of spectators line the sidewalks for a glimpse into the past, a time when a […]
Find out more »Nitro Circus – Greater Nevada Field
– Join as at Greater Nevada Field as Nitro Circus’ roster of elite athletes, including champion BMX and scooter rider Ryan Williams as well as skilled professionals in freestyle motocross (FMX), skate and more, brave the world’s largest jumps. – The legendary 45-foot Giganta ramp will launch athletes into the sky at 40 miles per […]
Find out more »STIHL National Championship Air Races and Air Show
OVER 50 YEARS Reno Air Racing Association Over 50 years ago, the first plane went up in the Nevada desert to kick off what would become the STIHL National Championship Air Races and a legacy was born. A legacy of history, heritage and preservation. Of daring, imagination and wonder. Of memories made, traditions formed and […]
Find out more »Street Vibrations Fall Rally
Street Vibrations Motorcycle Festival is a celebration of music, metal and motorcycles, offering poker runs, live entertainment, ride-in shows, stunt and bike shows and more to more than 50,000 riding enthusiasts. This event is so big, it rocks at several locations throughout the region. Major event venues are planned in downtown Reno, historic Virginia City, […]
Find out more »Grand Sierra Beer and Chili Festival – Reno
What happens when tasty cold beers and live music meet spicy hot bowls of chili? That’s right, party time! This October it’s time to don the comfy pants, grab your best buds, and head on over to the Grand Sierra Beer & Chili Festival. Savor beer tastings from over two dozen local, regional and […]
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