City of Reno history

The University of Nevada was established as a college preparatory school in Elko in 1874.

A mining boom that commenced in southwestern Nevada in 1900 gave the state an economic shot in the arm.

Since 1907, Reno’s City Hall had stood on the southwest corner of Center and First (originally known as Front) Streets.

By the year 1930, Reno had grown substantially, with a population of around 18,500.

When gambling was legalized in Nevada (1931), Reno began to attract tourists to its many casinos.

In 1947, Reno saw its first high-rise casino hotel, the Mapes Hotel.

The Las Vegas branch was founded as a formal division of the university in 1957.

As 1960 approached, the city of Reno was reckoning with its rapid growth and the accompanying need for a new city government facility.

The city made a decisive move in March of 1961 when it announced that the parcel housing the old City Hall had been sold for a considerable sum to First National Bank.

He had just joined the Reno firm of Frederic J. DeLongchamps and George L.F. O’Brien in 1962.

The new building, constructed for a total cost of $1.3 million, was dedicated on May 21, 1965, with remarks from Governor Grant Sawyer, Reno Mayor Hugh Quilici, and others.

Wells later designed the Washoe County Library, located just up the street, which opened in 1966.

In 2002, the City of Reno announced its purchase of the 16-story Cal-Neva office building on the northeast corner of First and N. Virginia Streets and its intent to move city offices there.

The old City Hall building was initially considered for police headquarters, but with that plan abandoned, the city attempted to sell the building via public auction in 2005.