News

2026 Walking Tours

Register for Historic Reno's 2026 walking tours right here!

Learn More

Spring 2026 FootPrints

The latest issue of FootPrints is now available.

FootPrints Archive

Newsletter Archives

Monthly member newsletters are now archived on this site. 

Learn More

Lear Theater

Did you know the Lear Theater Project, amid all its ups and downs, has been ongoing for over 26 years? We have put together a comprehensive set of articles for you to learn more about the history of the project and the surrounding area.

Learn More

A Picture of an Atomic Bomb Explosion

German scientists split the atom in 1938; by all accounts their nuclear program is 2-3 years ahead of any other country. As war breaks out in Europe, Einstein writes to Roosevelt warning him about the development of a Nazi atomic bomb and imploring the president to begin a similar effort. Even as victories mount, General Eisenhower fears the German will deploy radioactive bombs against advancing Allied troops. In 1943, as part of the Manhattan Project, a clandestine group of scientists and military personnel, ALSOS, are tasked with finding and capturing German nuclear scientists and their labs before Hitler can change the outcome of the war. Unforgettable and unlikely characters, poignant moments, suspense and even comedy characterize this piece of history. And a special twist: the Reno connection?

Jerry Wager's interest in the WWII ALSOS operation stemmed from reading a book about the Hotel Ritz in Paris and it became a minor obsession after discovering the Reno connection to the story.

ALSOS: The Hunt for Hitler's A-Bomb Video

Jerry Wager