Reno
or Bust: Sin and the American Roadside
Reno
or Bust: Sin and the American RoadsideSeptember 2002
Reno, Nevada
Photo Gallery
| Conference Papers | Registration
Conference Schedule | Lodging
| Travel
Climate | T-Shirts
WEDNESDAY
September 25, 2002
1:30 P.M.-4:30 P.M.
SCA Board Meeting, Siena Hotel Meeting Room A.
6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M.
Opening Reception: The National Automobile Museum.
Tour the fabulous Harrah Collection of vintage automobiles, while meeting
new friends and greeting old ones over hors d’oeuvres and drinks
from a cash bar.
THURSDAY
September 26, 2002
8:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M.
Bus Tour No. 1
The tour will leave the National Automobile Museum and head for Lake Tahoe and the Ponderosa Ranch, home of TV’s Bonanza. The tour will then pass through Carson City, Nevada’s capital, for a look at remnants of the Lincoln Highway and casino neon. From there, the tour heads to the Virginia City National Landmark District, home of the famous Comstock Lode, for lunch at the Fourth Ward School. he Society for Commercial Archeology’s 2002 Annual Conference will investigate the unusual relationship between sin and the American roadside as it developed in Reno, Nevada. Reno’s early tourism industry evolved through its famous divorce trade and legalized casino gambling, both of which were marketed to the automobile traveler. After lunch, with guide in hand, the group is on its own to explore the historic town of Virginia City, with such attractions as the Bucket of Blood Saloon and Piper’s Opera House. On the way back to Reno, the tour will travel Geiger Grade, pass Steamboat Hot Springs, and some notable neon motel signs. There will be time throughout the day for exploring and photography. A tour guide, lunch, and snacks will be provided.
FRIDAY
September 27, 2002
The National Automobile Museum
8:00 A.M.-9:00 A.M. Coffee and Muffins
9:00 P.M.-12:00 P.M.
Symposium and Paper/Poster Session. Keynote Speaker: Alan Hess, noted
architect and architecture critic. Mr. Hess has written several books
that relate to the interests of SCA members including: Googie: Fifties
Coffee Shop Architecture (Chronicle Books, 1986); Viva Las Vegas: After
Hours Architecture (Chronicle Books, 1993); and others.
12:00 P.M.-1:30 P.M.
Buffet lunch, SCA annual meeting, and 5-minute stories
1:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M.
Paper session continues
4:00 P.M.-5:30 P.M.
Walking Tour. Leaving from the National Automobile Museum, members of
Historic Reno Preservation Society will lead a walking tour of downtown
Reno.
SATURDAY
September 28, 2002
8:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M.
Bus Tour No. 2
The tour will leave the National Automobile Museum and begin exploring Reno’s west side, passing motels, diners, wedding chapels, the Lincoln Highway route, and the El Reno Apartments, designed for Reno’s divorce trade by Paul Revere Williams. Lunch will be held at the California Building, the last remnant of Reno’s Transcontinental Highway Exposition of 1927 held to inaugurate the Lincoln and Victory Highways. In the afternoon, the tour will explore Lincoln Highway resources, including Armet and Davis coffee shops, on the east side of town and in Sparks. The grand finale will be a stop at the world famous highway brothel, the Mustang Ranch. There will be time throughout the day for exploring and photography. A tour guide, lunch, and snacks will be provided.
The conference headquarters will be the Siena Hotel, Reno’s newest hotel/casino, located at One South Lake Street, overlooking the Truckee River in downtown Reno. A shuttle bus to the hotel is available at the Reno Airport. A block of rooms is being held at the Siena for the SCA for a nightly rate of $79 to $139. The luxury accommodations include the use of the fitness room and complimentary continental breakfasts. Make reservations by August 15, 2002 by calling 1-877-743-6233. An additional block of 20 rooms has been set aside at the Truckee River Lodge, 501 W. First Street, Reno. Nightly rates begin at $48, single-occupancy, when booking for four nights. Truckee River Lodge is a non-smoking facility.
Make reservations by August 15, 2002 by contacting Marilyn
at marilyn@truckeeriverlodge.com
or 1-800-635-8950, indicating you are with the SCA conference. Truckee
River Lodge also has a shuttle bus from the airport. Inquire with Marilyn
for details. Other events are being held the same weekend as the conference,
so you are encouraged to make your reservations early. For other accommodations,
check the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority web site at www.renolaketahoe.com.
Most major airlines offer flights into Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The airport is close to downtown, and most major hotels provide shuttle buses. Call Kimmon Corneil at the Siena (775-321-5848) for shuttle bus arrangements. If you are driving, Reno is located at the junction of U.S. Highways 395 and 80. Greyhound Bus and Amtrak offer daily service.
Reno is located in the high desert of the Great Basin. Fall days are usually warm, with cool evenings. A daily "breeze" called the Washoe Zephyr keeps the climate temperate. Lake Tahoe and Virginia City will be cooler than Reno, and thundershowers are a possibility. It is recommended you dress in layers.
SCA commemorative t-shirts featuring the conference logo are offered. There will be a limited supply, so you are encouraged to order them in advance. Unsold shirts will be available for sale on Friday, September 27, 2002 at the paper session.
Conference Sponsors
Comstock Historic District Commission
Historic Reno Preservation Society
National Automobile Association (The Harrah Collection)
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Nevada State Historic Preservation Office
Preserve Nevada
Reno Historical Resources Commission
Society for Commercial Archeology