Downtown Reno: From the Reno Arch to the Truckee River

(49 reviews)

Reno, Nevada audio tour: Downtown Reno: From the Reno Arch to the Truckee River

This is a 1.4mi walking tour

It takes an average of 75 mins to complete.

Reno, Nevada

The United States

$7.99

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About the Tour

Weave through the different periods of Reno's boom and bust on this walking tour of the downtown area.

Reno, with its highs as a glitzy desert town filled with cowboys and celebrities, to its lows as a washed-up gambling town and the butt of many jokes on late night TV, has never failed to keep America fascinated. It’s a contradictory place that rides high and dips low. And, as it turns out, that oscillation was built into the city’s character from the beginning.

Our tour starts at Reno’s Arch, and along the way you'll find out about:

A beloved 12-floor brick building that was demolished
An extinct species of huge fish that used to swim through downtown Reno
Reno’s history as the divorce capital of America
How trains, highways and mining changed the city
The bridge where the whole town started

Whether it’s your first time in the city, or you’re a local who wants to learn a little more, this tour is for you. So put a few dollars on the table, roll the dice, and take a chance on Reno, the biggest little city in the world.

Cover photo: Famartin via Wikimedia commons

Tour Producer

Fil Corbitt

3 tours

I'm a radio producer and audio artist based in Reno, Nevada. I make a podcast called The Wind and have a weekly segment on public radio that airs nationally, and teach audio production at the University of Nevada Reno.

I've spent most of my life in this city and have spent a lot of time digging into it's history and culture (and Northern Nevada more generally). I'm also passionate about audio storytelling, so putting together audio tours was a natural fit. Hope you dig them!

https://thisisreno.com/2021/06/local-podcaster-voices-new-audio-walking-tours-of-reno-tahoe/

Preview Location

Location 10

Virginia Street Bridge

Let’s stop here by the Virginia Street Bridge.

This is where it all began.
Before Reno was Reno, it was a ferry crossing. Pioneers and miners would cross the river at this point. In 1860 CW Fuller built a wooden bridge at this spot, and after it was destroyed by a flood, ... Read More

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Major Landmarks

Reno Arch
The Mapes
Truckee River Walk
Truckee River
Wingfield Park
Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts
Virginia St Bridge
Old Reno Arch
Reno

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
38 E 2nd St, Reno, NV 89501, USA
Total distance

2km
Final location
299-247 US-395 BUS, Reno, NV 89501, USA
Distance back to start location

41.58m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins at the Poker Chip Scultpure near the Reno Arch. There is metered street parking on Commercial Row, and the Whitney Peak parking garage is another option nearby. If you see the Reno sign, and a huge outdoor rock climbing wall, you are in the right place.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

You'll be passing multiple bars, museums and restaurants along the way, including:
Ol Bridge Pub, Smee's Alaskan Fish, Sierra Tap House, The Eddy, Sierra Arts Gallery, Wild River Grille, Taste of Chicago, The National Automobile Museum, and Pho 777.

Best time of day

Anytime works, though between sunrise and dusk is recommended so that you can see all the stops more clearly. I'd also recommend not taking it during a street festival in downtown, simply because it will be difficult to hear.

Precautions

Bring layers in the winter and sunblock in the summer!

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”