The History of the Reno Arch

This year celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Reno Arch. There have been four versions of the arch that have crossed Virginia Street at Commercial. The most current version was installed 20 years ago. There are actually two arches in Reno, the current version and the 1934 version. The 1934 version was moved to the Lake Street Bridge, several years ago. Today's arch is the centerpiece of a rapidly renovating downtown district.

The Lincoln Highway Arch:

In 1926, the Lincoln Highway was completed which linked Northern Nevada through the Sierras to California. The town leaders recognized the importance of this highway and so they decided to host a celebration. The Lincoln Exposition of 1927 was held during July and August of 1927. Welcome arches were fashionable during the 1920's, so the founding fathers commissioned an arch to be placed at the center of downtown. The original sculpture contained no lighting but did sport a sign which read: "Reno Nevada's Transcontinental Highway Exposition June 25-August 11,1927". The six week celebration of transportation would be revived 60 years later with the birth of Hot August Nights (always held on or around the first week in August). The original arch stood until 1934, until the town council decided that Reno needed an updated arch.

The Neon Arch:

In 1934, the original Reno Arch was given a face lift. The outdated Highway Exposition signage was removed and neon lighting was added. After an outcry from the citizens of Reno, a new sign was added. For the first time, the Reno motto "The Biggest Little City in the World" was added to the arch. With minor modifications and updates, that second arch stood across Virginia Street until 1963. After the Neon Arch was removed, it was stored until a new home was found for it. In the 1980's, the Neon Arch was installed across the Lake Street Bridge, just a block east of Virginia Street. It stands close to the Automobile Museum as a tribute to the transportation industry, which brought about the arch's creation.

The Mod Arch:

By 1963, the town council wanted something flashy and unique to draw attention to the expanding downtown district. They commissioned a radically different design for the downtown arch. The bare metal structure was replaced with bright yellow and orange plastic panels. The arch itself was redesigned as a off-centered double arch. This modern-age "hippie arch" stood proud across Virginia Street until replaced as part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the original Lincoln Highway opening. The "mod arch" was donated to the Northern California town of Willits, where it still stands to welcome visitors to their small community.

Today's Arch:

In 1987, the Young Electric Sign Company, or YESCO, installed the current sign. This is the sign that most people are familiar with. It has two golden towers to signify the twin cities of Reno and Sparks. The mirrored star on top is meant to stand for prosperity. The beams of the star point in every direction to signify that all dreams are possible. The thousands of lights that adorn the sign are meant to represent the thousands of opportunities that await all who enter downtown.

The sign is maintained primarily by Fitzgeralds Casino. Each March, the thousands of light bulbs are replaced by green bulbs to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The bulbs were once replaced by red bulbs to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Other than those two color-changes, the arch always glows golden. The golden glow is a nod to the Golden State of California, which Reno shares a special bond with.

The Reno Arch celebrates it's 80th anniversary this year. While not as famous as the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the Reno Arch has just as interesting a history. It has served as the focal point of downtown through all it's various incarnations and will likely stand far into the future. It is Reno, and she welcomes all who journey to her streets.