Historic Reno Preservation Society

East Fourth Street’s early connection with the transcontinental railroad and highway established this corridor as Reno’s main industrial business thoroughfare. Fourth Street’s close proximity to the Central Pacific and later Southern Pacific, the Virginia and Truckee and the Nevada-California-Oregon railroads, made the corridor the perfect location for warehousing and manufacturing industries.

The many commercial brick buildings along the street held the industrial businesses that supported a bustling community during the late 19th and well into the 20th Century. Warehouses, lumber mills, meat packing, beer production and bottling plants lined the street. Next in line were the auto courts, then motels and businesses catering to the weary Lincoln and Victory Highway traveler.

To the north, the working class lived in quaint neighborhoods filled with Queen Anne revivals and cottages. Reno maybe the city of trembling leaves but Fourth Street was the backbone that held the town together.

This walk will explore the many railroad, highway, industrial and warehousing haunts that make this street a historic treat for transportation enthusiasts. Some of the highlights include the beautiful 1910 Frederic DeLongchamps’ designed Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Depot and the1901 Flanigan’s Warehouse.