This Week >> 11/27/2008
Come with Susi and Michael this week as they discover Reno and Lake Tahoe in the northwest corner of the state of Nevada, an area of the Old West, with lots to offer any traveler. Discover Reno's lore, legends and rarified history which will stir your imagination. Journey to the world famous Lake Tahoe which flows through two states - California and Nevada - and is a place where tradition lives on. You'll hear all about it from: Michael Thomas, of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mella Harmon, Curator, Nevada Historical Society and Bill Watson, Curator of the Thunderbird Lodge on Lake Tahoe. Reno/Tahoe -- more than just casinos - a way of life.
Where We'll Be Exploring
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. A 2006 estimate indicated that the city's population had increased to 210,255, but ranked Reno as the fourth largest city in the state following Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas. Reno lies 26 miles (42 km) north of the Nevada state capital, Carson City, and 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Lake Tahoe in a shrub-steppe. The area of Western Nevada and the California Sierra Nevada anchored by Reno has a population of approximately 700,000 people. Reno shares its eastern border with the city of Sparks and is the larger of the principal cities of the Reno-Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), a metropolitan area that covers Storey and Washoe counties. The MSA had a combined population of 342,885 at the 2000 census. The MSA is combined with the Fernley Micropolitan Statistical Area to form the Reno-Sparks-Fernley Combined Statistical Area, which had a total population of 377,386 at the 2000 census.
Reno, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World", is famous for its casinos, and is the birthplace of the gaming corporation Harrah's Entertainment.
To hear more about Reno, Nevada, click here
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the United States. It is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City, Nevada. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is 1,645 ft (501 m) making it America's second-deepest.
The lake was formed about 2 million years ago and is a part of the Lake Tahoe Basin with the modern Lake being shaped during the Ice Ages. The lake is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides. The area surrounding the lake is also referred to as Lake Tahoe, or simply Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe is a major tourist attraction for both California and Nevada. It is home to a number of ski resorts, summer outdoor recreation, and tourist attractions. Snow and skiing are a significant part of the area's economy and reputation. Mountain and lake scenery are attractions throughout the year. The Nevada side also includes large casinos. Highways provide year-round access from Reno, Carson City and Sacramento.
Guests
Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Bureau
Michael Thomas is Executive Director of Marketing of the RSCVA. In his role, Mr. Thomas is responsible for overseeing communications, advertising, special events and Internet marketing. He joined the organization from the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), where he was director of investor development. During his sales and marketing career in Reno-Tahoe, Mr. Thomas has also served as the director of business development at Twelve Horses North America, executive director for the Tech Alliance, and reporter and anchor at KTVN news. Mr. Thomas earned a communications degree from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif. His marketing skills have been recognized by the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, which awarded him the Mark Twain Award for achievement in community service and public relations, as well as the American Marketing Association, which named him "Marketer of the Year" in 2002. Thomas was also recently named one of the inaugural 20 under 40 award winners by the Reno Gazette-Journal and Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network.
Nevada Historical Society
Mella Rothwell Harmon is the curator of history at the Nevada Historical Society, where she also serves as the managing editor of the Nevada Historical Society Quarterly. Ms. Harmon holds a masters of science degree in land use planning with an emphasis in historic preservation from the University of Nevada, Reno. She teaches Nevada history through UNR's Independent Learning program, and courses in historic preservation planning and survey and documentation in the Historic Preservation Program. From 1998-2005, Ms. Harmon served as the National Register of Historic Places coordinator for Nevada and was active in heritage tourism initiatives for rural communities. She currently serves on the board of St. Augustine's Cultural Center in Austin, Nevada.
Pictures
Below are some photographs of old Reno, Nevada, Courtesy of Reno/Sparks Convention and Visitors Bureau.
(Click to enlarge)
