Historic Context Study, Survey, and National Register Nomination Associated with the History and Heritage of the African American Community of Northeast Reno
The City of Reno has secured an Underrepresented Communities Grant from the National Park Service to learn more about the historical narratives of the Black and African American communities in northeast Reno.
The City has hired Stories in Place, LLC to prepare a historical narrative of the African American experience in Reno, document important sites, and identify significant historical properties linked to Black history to support a new National Register Nomination. The consultant will engage with the public to document the history and heritage of Reno’s African American community, focusing on Northeast Reno (east of Lake Street to the city limits and between McCarran Boulevard on the north and the Truckee River on the south).
Stories in Place, LLC recently provided an update on the latest research on African American history and heritage in northeast Reno, including places identified as associated with this history and eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Watch the recorded presentation from March 6, 2025.
African American history is underrecognized in dominant historical narratives about Reno’s past and places associated with this history are underrepresented on historic registers at all levels (National, State, and Local). Of the historically designated properties within the city, only 5% are associated with African American history. This project will provide additional historic context about Reno that documents the experience of African Americans and will result in the addition of at least one historic property associated with this history to the National Register. The project will also assist with the identification of additional historic structures or opportunities for additional research to aid in the protection of sites significant to African American history in Reno. The project overall will support the inclusion of new aspects of Reno history that will benefit the preservation efforts of multiple groups including city planners, developers, historical groups, and the public.
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Acknowledgement of Support
The project is being funded by the National Park Service Underrepresented Communities Grant Program, a competitive grant program intended to diversify the nominations submitted to the National Register of Historic Places (National Register).