Reno, Nevada, has had an unconventional past. Nevada has sometimes been behind the times and sometimes ahead of them in defying conventional morality. The politicians who prevailed were consistently those who spurned hypocrisy and kept the economy strong by allowing activities that were illegal elsewhere: prizefighting, gambling, uncontested divorce. Reno, the largest city in the state until the late 1950s, took advantage of the lax political environment to become an urban playground. But Reno was also the home of ordinary people—merchants, railroad workers, university students and professors, families. The city’s two cultures rarely intersected.

Historic Photos of Reno captures the flavor of both sides of the city’s personality. Included are images of the businesses, the buildings, and the main events that marked the rise of the “Biggest Little City in the World.” Some of the photographs also capture the beauty of the natural environment in which Reno is situated. In stunning black-and-white photography, this handsome coffee-table book offers a compelling look into Reno’s past that will appeal to newcomers and longtime residents alike.

Author Donnelyn Curtis