This year, the Reno Rodeo will celebrate a big milestone—100 years of bringing the rodeo to Reno as one of the city’s signature events.
“One hundred years for any organization is significant,” said Reno Rodeo President, Mike Torvinen. “That’s why our motto for this year is ‘It’s a Big Damn Deal.’ We’re encouraging the whole community to come out and celebrate this huge milestone with us.”
The 2019 event is scheduled for June 20-29. The competition includes bareback, team roping, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, women’s barrel racing and bull riding.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the “Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West,” the organization has published a monthly excerpt from “A History – The First 80 Years” by Guy Clifton on its website. These short stories examine the characters and events that made the event what it is today. At Dickson Realty, we’re happy to share a bit of that story as well. Here are 9 photos that show off the rodeo’s history.
Reno Rodeo Historical Photos
A saddle bronc rider holds on during the 1942 rodeo.
The Grand Entry at the 1948 rodeo.
Cowboys climb the gates to avoid this bull, whose sole intent is to get rid of the rider on his back.
Crowds pack Virginia Street to watch this rodeo parade held in the 1950s.
Clowns at the 1953 rodeo taunt a large bull.
A cowboy hangs on during the bareback competition at the 1954 rodeo.
Team ropers compete in the 1958 rodeo in front of a packed house in the large grandstands.
Crowds line both sides of Virginia Street to watch the 1960 rodeo parade.
Chief Winnemucca led the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe at many of the rodeo parades, like this one in 1967.
To see more photos and read more history, visit Reno Rodeo History. To learn more about the Reno Rodeo, check out the organization’s Facebook, Twitter, or website at www.renorodeo.com.
