East 4th Street Walking Tour

21 Locations | Curated by Alicia Barber with Research Support from RTC Washoe

From manufacturing to tourism, railroads to restaurants, East 4th Street has played an important and multifaceted role in the history of Reno for more than a century. This tour provides a glimpse of the rich diversity of the area, best experienced on the pedestrian level. The route may be started at any point along the tour, proceeding in

either direction.

First operating as a county road populated by isolated industries, scattered homes, and an early streetcar line to Sparks, East 4th Street profited by its proximity to the railroad and to Reno's commercial core. In 1913, the creation of the Lincoln Highway Association led to the designation of 4th Street as the route of the transcontinental highway, and later, the Victory Highway, which also ran through town.

Renamed U.S. 40 in the late 1920s, the former Lincoln Highway remained the primary east-west route through Reno until the completion of Interstate 80, three blocks to the north, in 1974. In recent years, the street has been experiencing a renaissance, infusing new energy into a corridor whose heritage is largely unsurpassed.

Reno Historical presents the East 4th Street tour in partnership with the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, as part of the 4th Street | Prater Way History Project. Keep exploring Reno Historical to discover more historic sites along this corridor.