Early Reno

Known as the Biggest Little City, Reno was famous as a place where one could do things that were difficult to do anywhere else.

In 1868, Reno was a rough railroad town located on the new Central Pacific railroad line and quickly became the transportation hub for the greatest silver strike in the world, the Comstock Lode in Virginia City. By the early 1900s, Reno was the state's financial and industrial center. The automobile and the arrival of the Lincoln and Victory Highways made Reno a convenient place for a quick divorce, and between 1910 and 1970, it was known as the divorce capital of the world. Gaming thrived in Reno's back rooms and alleys since its earliest days, and became the state's major economic force after it was legalized in 1931. Enjoy the rich history of early Reno in this collection of 15 historic black-and-white postcards.