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Photo by James V. Carroll |
Nestled snuggly up against the eastern border of California, beneath the towering Sierra Nevada mountain range, the cities of Reno, Virginia City and state capital Carson City share a mother lode of legend and lore.
When they are not enjoying the sites, history and excitement of the area, Legionnaires will take on some of the most important issues facing the United States today, including support for the global war on terrorism, health-care issues for veterans and troops in VA and DoD facilities, and illegal immigration. Delegates will also vote on a number of resolutions affecting children and youth, internal affairs and membership. They will elect a new national commander and set legislative priorities.
When the work is done, and it’s time for some R&R, few places in the western United States offer such a rich and varied array of indoor and outdoor activities. The downtown area offers entertainment, shopping, restaurants, an arts and cultural district, historic walking tours, the Nevada Museum of Art and the National Automobile Museum. Hiking, biking, kayaking, boating, golf, fishing and other activities are available within 30 minutes of downtown.
Access to Reno’s many casinos is made easy by hopping aboard The Sierra Spirit, the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission’s free downtown bus service. Riders can get on and off Sierra Spirit buses at stops located within easy walking distance of any attraction.
Visitors should expect hot summer days, but as the locals like to say, “It’s a dry heat.” Situated in a valley 4,400 feet in elevation, Reno’s summertime 90-degree to 100-degree daytime temperatures are tempered by low humidity and cool nights.
In the late 1840s and 1850s, thousands of travelers passed through the Reno area to seek fortune in the California gold fields. They rested along the Truckee River before making an arduous trek over the jagged Sierra Nevadas. Many hastily retraced their steps upon learning of gold and silver strikes south of Reno.
The discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859 gave rise to numerous boomtowns like Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City and Dayton. In turn, the riches generated by the Comstock resulted in the development of outlying communities such as Carson City and Reno, which had become an agricultural center and transportation hub for people and goods to and from the Comstock.
Today, gaming plays a key role in Reno’s economy. But the city’s early economic success was tied to the boom-and-bust industries of mining and agriculture. During bust periods, Reno survived by fostering gambling and prostitution, earning it the title “Sin City.” Nevada officials eventually gave up trying to control gambling in the state, partly out of frustration and partly out of economic necessity.
Seeking ways to survive the Depression, Nevada legalized gambling in 1931. It quickly flourished in Reno.
In the early and mid-1900s, Reno also became a well-known gathering place for celebrities seeking quick divorces. In 1927, competing for the migratory divorce trade, Nevada cut its already generous six-month residency requirement to three months, and in 1931 slashed its waiting period to obtain a divorce to six weeks. In the decade between 1929 and 1939, the Washoe County Courthouse granted more than 30,000 divorces, and Reno became widely known as the divorce capital of the world.
The completion of the Lincoln Highway through Reno on its way to the California state line opened a new economic opportunity to the city: automobile tourism. In 1928, Reno officials decided the city needed a permanent slogan and offered $100 in a contest to supplant less than flattering, unofficial taglines linked to the city’s rowdy past. “Reno: Biggest Little City in the World” won out.
The original historic lighted arch still shines today at its new location on Lake Street south of the Truckee River between State and First streets. A jazzed-up brighter version of the sign has replaced the original arch on Virginia Street near the railroad ditch in downtown Reno.
Whether it’s history, scenery, gaming, shopping or dining, Reno is a place to experience some of the best of what the West has to offer. But a word of caution is in order: pace yourself. Unless you plan to spend the entire summer exploring the Grand Basin area, there are many more activities than you will have time to enjoy.
So, as folks at the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority say, “pick your pleasure – headliner shows, world-class dining, hot nightclubs or any of your favorite casino games – and play the night away.”
For more on exciting things to do near Reno, see the May issue of The American Legion Magazine.
