Want to explore the Biggest Little City’s past and take a Reno historic home tour? You’re in luck! The Historic Reno Preservation Society and Artown are offering free, digital tours of the area’s historic homes and neighborhoods.
“These Neighborhood Stories will provide a new perspective on our annual walking tours,” according to the Historic Reno Preservation Society’s website. “Rather than simply recounting the tour and its destinations, our Tour Guides will highlight the most compelling people, places, and stories of their tours. We hope that you will join us online.”
Go online to take a digital Reno historic home tour
Neighborhood Stories are available during July through the Artown website, www.artown.org. Some upcoming tours include:
Powning’s Addition
- Tuesday, July 21, 6:00 p.m.
- Register here
Discover one of Reno’s earliest and most delightful vernacular neighborhoods and learn about the English, Germans and Italians that settled the area. This neighborhood is the first City of Reno Conservation District. This tour is presented by Jack Hursh and Loren Jahn.
Downtown Sparks
- Thursday, July 23, 6:00 p.m.
- Register here
Learn about the history of the Rail City on a virtual jaunt through Victorian Square and Downtown Sparks. Hear about how this area has transformed itself from a railroad hub to a vibrant commercial district, which degraded into a rundown urban area before a successful redevelopment that changed the image and future of the city. We discuss some of the buildings and sites that have played an important role in the history and development of Sparks and Nevada. Presented by Scott Carey, this talk is in collaboration with the Sparks Heritage Museum.
Parsons/Mills Architecture
- Sunday, July 26, 2:00 p.m.
- Register here
Hear the story of Reno architects Edward Parsons and Russell Mills and the homes they designed, many of which were located in Newlands Heights, one of Reno’s most unique neighborhoods. Learn about the hallmarks of each architect’s style and how their careers were intertwined during this presentation by ZoAnn Campana.
Circle/Southridge Drive Old Southwest Reno
- Tuesday, July 28, 6:00 p.m.
- Register here
Learn about Southridge Estates, one of Reno’s most outstanding residential areas in the early 1950s. During this presentation, Caroline Asikainen will explore the large yards, big trees and beautiful ranch style homes of many prominent Renoites.
Country Club Acres
- Wednesday, July 29, 6:00 p.m.
- Register here
Hear about an area of southwest Reno steeped in history from the 1920s and ‘30s, home to the original Reno Golf Club, Reno’s first airfield and the luxurious, ill-fated Country Club. With the growing popularity of the Washoe Golf Course and the newly-created Virginia Lake, the early 1940s saw the rise of a new neighborhood created for suburban living. The sale of lots rather than homes ensured an eclectic mix of architectural styles and homes of all sizes. Learn more about this area during the presentation by Debbie Hinman.
Historic High Rises in Reno
- Thursday, July 30, 6:00 p.m.
- Register here
Hear the stories behind Reno’s tallest historic buildings in our downtown. During this digital exploration, ZoAnn Campana will discuss the changes in technology that allowed architects and engineers to create buildings at increasingly towering heights, as well as the evolving details used to adorn high rise architecture between the 1930s and 1960s.
The Historic Reno Preservation Society also offers recorded tours for viewing on demand. For a full list, visit historicreno.org/index.php/tours/neighborhood-stories.
At Dickson Realty, our team of local experts knows about the best events, activities, and places to live. To learn more about how to enjoy the Reno/Sparks region, contact one of our Realtors today.
