The Genesis of Reno: The History of the Riverside Hotel and the Virginia Street Bridge [Hardcover]

Over 157 years ago—before there was a Reno, Nevada; before there was a state of Nevada; and even before there was a Nevada Territory—there was a bridge over the Truckee River at a narrow, deeply rutted cattle and wagon trail that would one day become Virginia Street. There was also a small rustic inn and tavern occupying a plot of ground at the southern end of the log-and-timber bridge, catering to thirsty cowboys, drovers, and miners. The inn and the bridge were the first two structures in what would one day be a bustling metropolitan area, and to this day they still form the nucleus of the city.The Genesis of Reno traces their history up to the present day. The 111 year-old concrete bridge that was replaced in 2016 by a magnificent new structure was honored for its longevity and unique character with placement on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
 

The remarkable story of two of Reno’s most iconic landmarks
 

“This is a fascinating, well-told story with an unforgettable cast of characters. It reminds us of what made Reno so unique and nationally prominent.” —Eric Moody, Editor ofNevada in the West

“The book offers an invitation to the curious and the nostalgic to discover Reno’s past, which swirls about these two important and enduring places and structures.” —William Rowley, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Nevada, Reno

“The author’s portrait of early Reno history and the various incarnations of the bridge (wooden, iron, concrete) as well as their physical engineering limitations is rich and engaging...The book ultimately succeeds as a fresh and engaging portrait of Reno because of the author’s clear admiration and nostalgia for these two local landmarks.” —Public Historian Review

Jack Harpster graduated from the UniversitlÃS