Reno-Sparks Region History

1844
John C. Fremont and his party of explorers arrive at Pyramid Lake (30 miles from Reno). Prior to this time, the area was inhabited exclusively by Native Americans. Reno was a gathering place for celebrations and festivals of the Washoe and Paiute tribes.

1846
The Donner Party-a misdirected, ill-advised party of immigrants-is trapped in the heavy snows of the Sierra. Virtually all overland travel is halted in the area for the next two years.

1848
Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill, California, and prospectors race to the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada.

1850
The Utah Territory is established, including most of what is now Utah, Idaho, and Nevada

1859
The Comstock Lode-the greatest silver strike in American history-begins near Virginia City, 24 miles from Reno in the Utah Territory. Within a year, some 10,000 prospectors invade the territory.

1861
Under President James Buchanan, Nevada is proclaimed a US territory separate from Utah.

1863
Samuel Clemens moves to Virginia City to work on the Territorial Enterprise under the pseudonym Mark Twain.

1864
Battle-Born Nevada becomes a state under Abraham Lincoln.

1867
The railroad comes to the Truckee Meadows

1868
Lake's Crossing is renamed Reno after Civil War General Jesse Lee Reno.

1869
The Nevada legislature formally legalizes gambling in the state.

1885
The University of Nevada moves from Elko to Reno

1903
Reno is incorporated as a city. A year later, Sparks is incorporated as a city.

1910
Populists in the state legislature ban gambling. That same year, Jack Johnson fights Jim Jeffries in the "battle of the century, in Reno before 22,000 fans-more than double the city's population.

1927
Nevada drops its residency requirements for divorce to three months. The three-day waiting period in California for a marriage license begins Reno's marriage boom (some 18,000 couples to wed in the city in 1945 alone).

1929
Thanks to the winner of a slogan contest, the Reno arch (installed in 1926) advertises Reno as the Biggest Little City in the World.

1931
Gambling is declared legal again by the Nevada Legislature to boost the local economy's recovery during the Great Depression. That same year, residency requirements for a legal divorce are dropped to six weeks, and the divorce rate in Nevada increases 200 percent.

1936
Harolds Club casino opens. During World War II, the phrase, Harolds Club or Bust is advertised internationally.

1947
The Mapes Hotel/Casino opens as Nevada's first casino resort.

1950
Reno and Las Vegas account for almost 62 percent of the state's population (jumping to 82 percent by 1970).

1952
Reno's weddings outnumber its divorces.

1955
John Ascuaga opens the Nugget, Sparks' first casino.

1959
Reno Municipal Airport opens.

1960
The Misfits, Arthur Miller's first screenplay, is filmed in Reno; the film stars Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe.

1965
The Reno-Sparks Convention Center opens (originally as the Centennial Coliseum).

1967
The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts opens (originally intended as the convention center).

1968
Interstate 80 is constructed, employing Reno as the link between the eastern and western United States.

1973
The Fleischmann Planetarium opens on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

1987
The new Reno arch is erected in Virginia Street (to replace the 1935 neon version). That same year, the Reno Livestock events center opens as one the most modern and versatile event facilities in the western United States.

1989
The National Automobile Museum opens with more than 200 cars on display.

1991
The Raymond I. Smith Truckee River Walk opens, making the river a part of the local tourist experience.

1995
Reno's National Bowling Stadium-the Taj Mahal of the Ten Pins-opens. That same year, The Silver Legacy opens boasting the tallest hotel tower in the state and changing Reno's skyline forever.

1996
Artown is born as a month long arts festival, bringing the city national recognition.

2000
Hotel-casino revenues reach $200 billion in Washoe County. Also, Nevada starts the Millennium Scholarship program.

2004
Construction of the new Downtown Events Center. UNR Basketball makes it to the Sweet Sixteen.

2005
ReTrac downtown improvement project completed.