Discover Reno: Art, Automotive History, and City Tours

Reno brings together art, automotive history, historic neighborhoods, and opportunities for outdoor activities. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on collections, city history, walking tours, or trails and water sports.

Art Collections and Architecture

The Nevada Museum of Art is Nevada’s only art museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Its permanent collection is organized into four thematic areas: the Robert S. and Dorothy J. Keyser Art of the Greater West Collection, the Carol Franc Buck Altered Landscape Photography Collection, the Modern and Contemporary Art Collection, and the E. L. Wiegand Work Ethic in American Art Collection. The names represent different areas of the collection: art of the Greater West, landscape photography, modern and contemporary art, and work ethic in American art. The building itself also draws on a distinct theme: it was inspired by the geological formations of the Black Rock Desert.

Automotive History and Exhibitions

The National Automobile Museum opened on November 5, 1989. It is designed as a self-guided tour through historic street scenes, galleries, exhibitions, and displays. It features more than 240 cars, along with authentic street scenes and corresponding sounds.

The Discovery has 67,000 square feet of permanent and changing exhibitions. It also offers events and programs for all ages. This adds exhibitions and programs for all age groups to the clearly defined focuses of art collections and automotive history.

Historic Neighborhoods and Tours

Digital tours can be distinguished by the number of stops: the Historic Riverfront Walking Tour has 20 stops, the Mansions on the Bluff Tour has 29, and the Historic MidTown Tour has 36. The Mansions on the Bluff neighborhood includes homes where three former U.S. senators lived.

Reno’s MidTown neighborhood has been a lively business and residential district for nearly a century. East 4th Street has played an important and varied role in Reno’s history for more than a century. These two descriptions highlight different aspects: MidTown is described as a business and residential district, while East 4th Street is defined by its role in the city’s history.

The University of Nevada, Reno National Historic District includes the Quad, Manzanita Lake, and 13 historic buildings. Reno also has more than 150 historic markers. A named historic district and numerous individual markers therefore offer different points of connection to the city’s history.

Water Activities and Trails

The Truckee River flows through downtown Reno. The completed “West McCarran to Sparks” section of the Tahoe Pyramid Trail runs through the Riverwalk District and is 10.7 miles long. Since trail conditions can change seasonally, check current conditions before setting out.

The Whitewater Park has 11 pools over a total length of 2,600 feet; the course is rated Class 2 to 3. Kayaks, canoes, rafts, and tubes can be used there. A trail section with a specified length and a course with a designated class and different types of use thus offer distinct activity options.

Planning Your Stay

Reno-Tahoe International Airport is in central Reno; all major hotels in the area are within 15 minutes.

Explore more destinations: Crystal Bay, Sparks, Incline Village, Cold Springs, Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley.

Return to the main travel overview: Washoe.