Culture and History

Culture and History. . Reno’s Truckee River Corridor abounds with historic and cultural landmarks., Many citizens are not aware of the hidden treasures along the Truckee River, such as historic churches, mansions, museums and public art. , The City of Reno has a colorful past. First settled as a river crossing in 1860 by Myron Lake, Reno served as a link between Nevada’s Comstock mines and California’s generous supply centers., The architectural heritage of Reno demontrates the growth, evolution and change the city as experienced for more than 100 years. Most of the oldest historic buildings are located near the banks of the Truckee River. Many period buildings in Reno do not possess all the characteristics of a particular style, but are informal interpretations of architectural styles. There are many Period Revival buildings throughout the city which showcase Reno’s inherent character. These buildings include various other styles such as Tudor, European Cottage, Colonial Revival and Mission/Spanish Revival., The McKinley Arts and Culture Center is an important community mecca for Reno’s artists. Constructed in 1910, the former McKinley Park School was one of four Spanish/Mission style schools in Reno dubbed the “Spanish Quartet.” Two have since been destroyed, and the other is Mt. Rose Elementary School. The McKinley Arts and Culture Center underwent extensive renovation in 1999. Today, this historic building boasts gallery space, arts and crafts workshops, rental space for local nonprofit arts organizations and an auditorium., Today, with coffeehouses, art galleries, museums, the artists’ residence at the old Riverside Hotel (now known as the Riverside Artists’ Lofts) and outdoor sculptures alongside the river in adjoining neighborhoods, art is highly visible in the heart of Reno., Moya Lear, Reno’s matriarch of the arts, It’s fitting that the heart of Reno’s theater scene, the Lear Theater, is named in honor of Moya Lear. She was born into show business, daughter of John “Ole” Olsen of the nationally renowned vaudeville team of Olsen and Johnson. , She lived and breathed enterntainment, assisting her father in New York City’s smash hit, “Hellzapoppin’”. Moya’s magnetism drew the attention of an equally gregarious luminary, inventor Bill Lear, who went on to make aviation history by helping to introduce the industry’s first automatic pilot as well as the Lear jet. The couple married in 1942 and eventually made a home along the Truckee River near Verdi., The building now known as The Lear Theater, at the corner of First Street and Riverside Drive, was built in 1938 and was the church Moya attended and taught Sunday school for 30 years. Moya was one of the area’s most prominent philanthropists, instrumental in the creation and support of many projects including Junior League, Harrah’s Auto Museum, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, and public broadcasting at KUNR-FM and KNPB-TV to name a few. In 1998, when the congregation was seeking a new home, Moya led the charge to purchase the building and preserve it as the “theater for all the community” that it is today.