Home Means Nevada

Home means Nevada
Home means the hills.
Home means the sage and the pine
Out by the Truckee, silvery rills
Out where the sun always shines
Here is the land which I love the best
Fairer than all I can see
Deep in the heart of the golden west
Home means Nevada to me.
-- Nevada State Song

Edit: This was written sometime in 1995, no idea if it's still true :)

For many, the city of Reno conjures up images of glitzy casinos, blackjack tables, and a 24-hour town -- a place to visit and have fun. Many people don't realize that people actually live in Reno. But over 100,000 Nevadans proudly call Reno their home, and for good reason. Reno is truly "The Biggest Little City in the World," for juxtapositioned to and living in peaceful coexistence with the fast-paced life of a big city are the roots of a small town.

Although Reno has grown to accommodate the thousands of tourists who visit each year, it has retained its histories: of being a rural town, a railroad town, a mining town. Within Reno there are industrial areas located next to commercial banks, horse pastures next to supermarkets, and residential areas next to casinos. While this could have created tensions within the community, the people in Reno have instead accepted that their city is multi-faceted and are tolerant of their neighbors, and it is this acceptance which makes me proud to have grown up there.

By the way, I'm hoping to include some interesting pictures of Reno I have taken over the last couple years which show a point of view most people haven't seen, if I ever get around to scanning them in.

Some pictures (a start, at least)

Click on a picture to see a full-size image of it...

This picture was shot along Interstate 80 at the California/Nevada state line in the afternoon in the summer of 1993.

This picture was taken from the corner of Skyline and Cashill Blvds in Southwest Reno. Hopefully this picture shows that there is more to Reno than just the downtown area. Many people live apart from the Reno gaming industry, both figuratively and literally. This was also shot in the summer of 1993. (approx. 200K jpg)

I was driving around the Reno/Sparks border when I decided to stop by the Nevada Highway Patrol. I had gone there once to take my driver's test, but I had not been there since. I went inside, and one of the officers was kind enough to give me a tour of the headquarters. I took a lot of pictures, but really liked this one for some reason, so I decided to add it. (approx. 200K jpg)

Twin City Surplus lies on 4th street in eastern Reno near the Sparks border. It is a place which some people distinctly know and others distinctly do not know. I really like this picture not for the fine array of vehicles in the scene, but rather for the small child who is looking at the camara. (approx. 220K jpg)

Reno High School, located on Booth Street, is where I spent four years of my life, and was one of the few constants during that period. An integral part of my conception of Reno, I wanted to get a picture of the entire school, but with the limitations of my camera and lenses, I settled for a picture of the main entrance.

The Reno arch proclaiming Reno as "The Biggest Little City in the World" is in the center of downtown and is one of the most photographed shots in Reno. This picture was taken in 1993. Interestingly, the train in this picture is moving right to left.

	This picture was shot along Interstate 80 at the California/Nevada state line in the afternoon in the summer of 1993.

	This picture was taken from the corner of Skyline and Cashill Blvds in Southwest Reno. Hopefully this picture shows that there is more to Reno than just the downtown area. Many people live apart from the Reno gaming industry, both figuratively and literally. This was also shot in the summer of 1993. (approx. 200K jpg)

	I was driving around the Reno/Sparks border when I decided to stop by the Nevada Highway Patrol. I had gone there once to take my driver's test, but I had not been there since. I went inside, and one of the officers was kind enough to give me a tour of the headquarters. I took a lot of pictures, but really liked this one for some reason, so I decided to add it. (approx. 200K jpg)

	Twin City Surplus lies on 4th street in eastern Reno near the Sparks border. It is a place which some people distinctly know and others distinctly do not know. I really like this picture not for the fine array of vehicles in the scene, but rather for the small child who is looking at the camara. (approx. 220K jpg)

	Reno High School, located on Booth Street, is where I spent four years of my life, and was one of the few constants during that period. An integral part of my conception of Reno, I wanted to get a picture of the entire school, but with the limitations of my camera and lenses, I settled for a picture of the main entrance.

	The Reno arch proclaiming Reno as "The Biggest Little City in the World" is in the center of downtown and is one of the most photographed shots in Reno. This picture was taken in 1993. Interestingly, the train in this picture is moving right to left.