Let’s take a good look at the building on your right-the 20th Century Club. Or, as some locals might say, “Reno’s original women’s power station.” Back in 1894, when Reno was still dust and ambition, eighty-four women, led by Mrs. Walter McNab Miller, decided the city needed more than saloons and mining deals. They wanted libraries, kindergartens, scholarships-a shot at the future.
Their vision was huge. By 1901, these women weren’t just talking about change-they were making it. They literally started Reno’s first circulating library, and even pushed lawmakers to create public kindergartens statewide. Imagine convincing folks at the turn of the last century that toddlers deserved an education--that was no light task.
Now, the building itself is a stunner. Built in 1925, it’s a blend of Classical Revival and Prairie School architecture-a little “Great Gatsby,” a little prairie prairie. It was the scene for just about everything-a who’s who of gatherings: dinner dances, weddings, and enough civic meetings to make your head spin. Back in the club’s heyday, membership topped 1,000 women-picture it, a thousand voices planning, laughing, plotting the next cause.
They had their fingers in all sorts of pies. War efforts, social causes, and even laws about... spitting on the sidewalk. Hey, civic progress comes in all shapes. Speaking of progress, their scholarships began in the late 1800s-$100 back then, roughly $3,500 today. Now, they give two $2,500 medical scholarships each year, plus $20,000 to charity. Not bad for a club that started in a parlor.
Alright, time to head west along the river. The First Church of Christ, Scientist is just a 2-minute walk from here.
