Reno's history is colorful and a bit on the wild side. It's always fun to learn about where you live and how it got to be the way it is, and these free lectures from the Historic Reno Preservation Society (HRPS) will help you do just that.
All HRPS program lectures are on the fourth Wednesday of the month and start at 7 p.m. Unless otherwise noted, programs are held at the Mt. Rose Elementary School, 915 Lander Street in Reno (between W. Taylor Street and LaRue Avenue).
Historic Reno Preservation Society Lectures for Winter, 2013
Brian J. Whalen - University of Nevada Facilities History - Wednesday, January 23. Whalen will deliver an entertaining history of the University of Nevada, Reno from its inception at Elko in 1874, through its move to Reno in 1885, and up to the present. He will draw on his decades of experience working at the University, where he served as assistant vice president for facilities for 22 years and was also a member of the regional planning commission for 5 years.
Debbie Hinman – History of Reno Schools - Wednesday, February 27. However wild and uncouth Reno was in its early days, it nonetheless had a soul that prized education. This presentation will examine the evolution of schools and education from the country schoolhouses in the area's earliest settlements through the Ferris - designed architectural gems of the early 1900s to today's expansive structures.
Dr. Michael E. Fischer – An Evening of Fresh, Frisch Findings! - Wednesday, March 27. Follow Roy Frisch from boyhood to the night in Reno when he mysteriously disappeared. On March 22, 1934, now almost 80 years ago, he vanished and would never be seen again. What was his early life like? What careers did he follow? Why was he a likely kidnapping and murder victim? What conditions in 1934 Reno allowed his disappearance with no trace despite the presence and sustained efforts of numerous Bureau of Investigation agents? Take a trip through the many contemporary and later accounts along with the FBI website "Vault" to discover both the old and the new facts of the case, leaving you with a better understanding of why Roy Frisch was the man who never returned.
Kimberly Roberts – Family / Childhood Photographs of Reno Residents - Wednesday, April 24. Special Collections at the University of Nevada, Reno has the personal photograph collections of many well-known Reno residents and many anonymous ones as well. They represent a variety of classes and cultures and lifestyles. Kim will talk about these photos and explain what they tell us about daily life and the history that people live, beyond the newspaper headlines and political events. She will show the historical importance of personal photographs in understanding history. And of course, tell some good stories while she's at it.
About the Historic Reno Preservation Society
The Historic Reno Preservation Society is, by the organization's own statement, "dedicated to preserving and promoting historic resources in the Truckee Meadows through education, advocacy, and leadership." HRPS is operated by a board of directors and volunteers. The organization helps educate both local residents and visitors through walking tours, bus tours, and bike rides through Reno's historic districts and other areas of historic interest around the Truckee Meadows and northern Nevada.
Membership in the Historic Reno Preservation Society
HRPS membership includes free admission to tours and the quarterly FootPrints newsletter. You can download and print the membership form if you are interesting in joining. Here are the annual dues...
- Student: $15.00
- Individual: $25.00
- Family: $40.00
- Business or Contribution: $50.00
- Supporting: $100.00
- HRPS Angel: $250.00
Source: Historic Reno Preservation Society.
Books About Reno History
Early Reno - A book of historic Reno photographs compiled by the Nevada Historical Society Docent Council.
Historic Photos of Reno - A coffee table-sized book on Reno with pictures and commentary covering Reno from around 1868 to the end of the 1970s. Author Donnelyn Curtis is a librarian at the University of Nevada, Reno, Director of Research Collections & Services, and head of Special Collections.
Nevada Ghost Towns & Mining Camps: Illustrated Atlas - Author Stanley W. Paher brings us an excellent book about exploring northern Nevada ghost towns (there is a companion book covering southern Nevada). Together with a little history of the sites, the book has maps and photos to help you find these historic sites.
