Heirloom Finds In Reno That Celebrate Nevada’s Underrated Design Legacy
Ready to unearth hidden treasures in Reno? The city’s design legacy might not get as much love as other hotspots, but trust me, it’s got some serious style secrets waiting to be discovered.
Reno’s rich history is reflected in its craftsmanship, with pieces that have stood the test of time.
Prepare to explore a world of heirloom finds that will have you seeing this desert oasis in a whole new light!
1. Vintage Casino Memorabilia: Relics Of Reno’s Gambling Golden Age
Ever wondered what those vintage poker chips feel like in your hand? Weighing more than modern versions, these clay beauties from Reno’s historic casinos like Harrah’s and the Mapes Hotel carry decades of gambling lore.
Collectors treasure playing cards, ashtrays, and matchbooks emblazoned with bygone casino logos. Each item tells a story of Nevada’s gaming evolution before corporate giants took over.
The most coveted pieces include hand-painted chips from the 1940s and rare promotional items that capture Reno’s distinctive approach to gambling culture.
2. Mid-Century Furniture: Space Age Elegance From Nevada’s Boom Years
Hunting for that perfect atomic-era coffee table? Reno’s mid-century furniture scene exploded during the 1950s-60s boom when the city attracted designers influenced by California modernism but with distinctly Nevada flair.
Local antique shops like Junkee and The Freckled Frog regularly unearth walnut credenzas, sculptural chairs, and brass accents from Reno homes. The dry desert climate has preserved these pieces remarkably well.
Look for signature elements like hairpin legs, boomerang shapes, and space-age motifs. These details reflect the optimism of Nevada’s post-war expansion.
3. Railroad Treasures: When The Transcontinental Shaped Nevada
Did you know Reno owes its existence to the railroad? Vintage railroad lanterns, station signs, and conductor uniforms from the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific lines can be found in local antique stores. These items connect collectors to Reno’s transportation roots.
The most fascinating finds are personalized items carried by railroad workers. You can find monogrammed pocket watches, toolboxes, and handwritten logs detailing daily life on Nevada’s railways.
Many pieces show unique adaptations to Nevada’s harsh climate. The best examples are specialized snow-clearing equipment models that kept mountain passes open year-round.
4. Salvaged Neon Signs: Glowing Ghosts Of Reno’s Past
Nothing captures Reno’s mid-century swagger like its neon signs! Salvaged from demolished motels and businesses along old Highway 40, these glowing masterpieces represent a uniquely American art form perfected in Nevada.
Local preservationists have rescued signs from iconic spots like the Mapes Hotel and Harold’s Club. The craftsmanship involved in hand-bending glass tubes and mixing noble gases for different colors is increasingly rare.
Smaller pieces from coffee shops and motor lodges make perfect wall art for collectors. They offer a unique glimpse into Reno’s rich visual history.
5. Native American Jewelry: Washoe And Paiute Artistry In Silver And Stone
The hands that crafted these silver and turquoise treasures tell stories stretching back generations. Washoe and Northern Paiute artisans around Reno create distinctive jewelry using techniques passed down through centuries.
Unlike mass-produced southwestern styles, local pieces often incorporate materials significant to Nevada’s landscape, local turquoise, obsidian, and even pine nuts rendered in silver. Serious collectors seek out signed pieces from recognized tribal artists.
Heritage galleries near Pyramid Lake showcase contemporary works that blend traditional patterns with modern design sensibilities.
6. Reno Ceramics: Clay And Culture
Reno’s ceramic tradition is a perfect blend of artistry and functionality. Potters in the region have long embraced the local clay, creating pieces that reflect both the landscape and cultural influences.
Each piece of Reno ceramics tells a story, from the earthy tones to the unique glazes that mimic the surrounding desert. Their utilitarian nature is enhanced by the beauty they bring to everyday life.
These ceramics are celebrated for their durability and artistic merit. As a fusion of culture and technique, they are collectibles that connect past and present, offering a tactile link to Nevada’s creative roots.
7. Reno Rodeo Artwork: Celebrating Nevada’s Ranching Heritage
Yee-haw! Since 1919, the Reno Rodeo has inspired incredible poster art that captures Nevada’s ranching spirit. Vintage posters from the 1940s-70s feature bold typography and stylized cowboy imagery that influenced Western design nationwide.
Beyond official posters, look for hand-printed promotional materials, commemorative buckles, and photographs documenting Nevada’s longest-running sporting event. Local estate sales occasionally reveal complete collections from devoted rodeo fans.
The most valuable pieces come from the post-war period. During this time, commercial artists experimented with modernist techniques while maintaining authentic Western themes.
8. Desert Modernist Mailboxes: Atomic Age Relics From Reno’s Suburban Boom
Tucked away in Reno’s oldest neighborhoods, atomic-inspired mailboxes stand as quirky sentinels of Nevada’s mid-century optimism.
These geometric metal sculptures masquerading as mailboxes feature starburst patterns, boomerang cutouts, and space-age silhouettes. They captured America’s fascination with the cosmos.
Local metalsmith Harold Jenkins created hundreds between 1955-1967, each one uniquely reflecting its owner’s personality while maintaining his signature angular style. Only about 30 authentic Jenkins mailboxes remain in Reno today.
Fun fact: Jenkins used scrap metal from decommissioned military equipment from nearby bases, literally transforming swords into mailboxes!
9. Basque Shepherds’ Tree Carvings: Living Art In Sierra Aspen Groves
Venturing just outside Reno into the Sierra foothills reveals an unexpected artistic legacy etched into living aspen trees. Basque shepherds, who came to Nevada in the late 1800s to tend flocks, created intricate carvings known as ‘arborglyphs’ during long, lonely summers in the mountains.
These remarkable etchings feature everything from names and dates to elaborate scenes of homeland villages, wildlife portraits, and sometimes risqué images! The oldest documented Reno-area arborglyph dates to 1871.
Local conservationists now photograph and catalog these disappearing treasures as their canvas trees naturally die off. The Basque Cultural Center in Reno offers guided summer tours to protected groves where visitors can witness this distinctive Nevada folk art tradition.
