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On May 17, 1997, during Historic Preservation Week, Pat Ferraro Klos led a walking tour of the Humboldt and Lander Street neighborhoods, attended by more than 50 people. After the walk 25 people gathered at My Favorite Muffin to discuss creating an organization dedicated to preserving Reno’s past. At Jean Ford’s suggestion, a summer interim committee was formed to develop goals and plans for the organization, which they named Historic Reno Preservation Society (HRPS). The six committee members were HRPS founding President Pat Klos, Vice President Cindy Ainsworth, Secretary Sandy Saunders, Treasurer Holly Young, and Board members Nancy Holmes and Bill Thimmisch.
 The Loren Jahn designed logo features the historic Virginia Street bridge which connects the two sides of the river and all facets of the community.
The first formal HRPS meeting was held on September 22, 1997 at Mt. Rose School when more than 70 people attended to hear Max Hershenow discuss local and national preservation issues. HRPS filed its Articles of Incorporation in February 1998; its Bylaws were approved in September 1998; it was granted tax-exempt status as a 501(c)3 organization in December 1999.
HRPS offers classes in the History of Reno to teachers, monthly public meetings on various aspects of historic Reno, more than 20 walking tours and 1 bike tour a year in up to 18 different Reno neighborhoods, historic bus tours, and an annual retro social evening. They have collaborated on historic projects with Sierra Arts, Great Basin Film Society, Artown, Preserve Nevada, Step Two, Reno Historic Resources Commission, Friends of the Washoe County Library, VSA at the Lake Mansion, and the State of Nevada Historic Preservation Office. HRPS has won the Silver Star Award from Truckee Meadows Tomorrow and a City of Reno Historic Resource Commission Award.
HRPS publication FootPrints offers informative historic and preservation related articles on a variety of topics and along with our walking tours, is a valuable membership benefit. The dedicated FootPrints staff and writers have striven to bring the best historical writing about the Truckee Meadows to our community.
In 2007, HRPS celebrated its ten year anniversary, one of the longest surviving preservation organizations operating in Reno today. With more than 600 members, HRPS continues to grow along with our community and in the near future, hopes to have an office location in a historic Reno building.
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