Riverwalk District in Reno in Washoe County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Reno
(Lear Theater)
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, August 7, 2026
1. First Church of Christ, Scientist, Reno Marker
Reno’s Christian Science congregation commissioned this Neoclassical Revival bulding in 1938. The church held its first service in the building in October of 1939. The Nevada State Journal declared that the building’s “stately simplicity” made for “one of the finest church buildings in Reno.” Church member Anna Frandsen Loomis chaired a committee to select a new site for the church because the congregation had outgrown its earlier building south of the Truckee River.
California architect Paul Revere Williams designed the building. Known as the “architect to the stars,” he began his long career by designing luxury homes for famous residents in Southern California. He was the first African American member of the American Institute of Architects and planned over 3,000 projects during his lifetime. Luella Garvey, a wealthy church patron, encouraged Williams to submit a design for the church. He designed Garvey’s home on California Avenue in 1934.
Williams was a very talented architect and won numerous awards for his work. Most of the buildings designed by Williams are in
this page online
Erected by Nevada Humanities and the Natioanl Endowment for the Humanities.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1938.
Location. 39° 31.421′ N, 119° 49.18′ W. Marker is in Reno, Nevada, in Washoe County. It is in the Riverwalk District. It is at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Ralston Street, on the right when traveling west on Riverside Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 539 Riverside Drive, Reno NV 89501, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada and in the Lake Tahoe Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, August 7, 2026
2. First Church of Christ, Scientist, Reno Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Humboldt Trail (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Powning’s Addition Conservation District (about 600 feet away); Fish of the Truckee River (about 600 feet away); The Coming of the Iron Horse (about 700 feet away); Wingfield Park (about 700 feet away); From Drought to Flood (about 700 feet away); About Your Journey... (about 700 feet away); Sullivan & Kelly Ditch (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reno.
Also see . . .
1. The Paul Revere Williams Project. A great website devoted to preserving the life and architectural accomplishments of Paul Revere Williams.
Our mission is to increase knowledge about the architect and his work by encouraging scholarship, facilitating access to information including an extensive bibliography, presenting exhibitions and publishing new research about his career.(Submitted on August 13, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)
2. Nine Places that Illustrate the Life of Trailblazing Black Architect Paul R. Williams.
Photo: Arthur Rothstein, Farm Security Administration, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Di, 1940
3. First Church of Christ, Scientist, Reno, 1940
During Hollywood’s Golden Age, Paul R. Williams was its “starchitect,” designing glamorous homes for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Frank Sinatra, and other celebrities. However, overt racial discrimination was also a reality throughout much of his five-decade-long career. As a high school student wishing to study architecture, Williams faced what he called “the blank wall of discouragement.” Undeterred, he redoubled his efforts to pursue an education, studying at the University of Southern California (USC) and other institutions. He also worked in the office of landscape architect and urban planner Wilbur D. Cook and was mentored by architect Reginald Johnson.(Submitted on August 13, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)
3. Paul R. Williams.
y any measure, the accomplishments of trailblazing architect Paul Williams are astounding. In a career spanning almost six decades, Williams designed more than 3,000 structures and mastered a range of architectural styles.(Submitted on August 13, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)
He broke racial barriers, becoming the first African American member (and later, Fellow) of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), as well as a civic leader.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 13, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
