Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Reno

The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts stands as an architectural gem, captivating visitors with its distinctive features and rich history. Designed by the esteemed Oklahoma City architectural firm of Bozalis, Dickinson and Roloff, the center was completed in 1967 as a concrete structure, crowned by a remarkable gold geodesic dome roof.

The geodesic dome, a hallmark of the Pioneer Center, was constructed by Temcor - the visionary developer of the geodesic dome concept. Temcor's expertise in constructing gold-anodized aluminum domes was showcased in the creation of the Pioneer Center, adding a touch of grandeur and uniqueness to the structure.

Originally intended to be named the Apollo Theater, the Pioneer Center adopted its current name from a statue of a pioneer family sculpted by Byron S. Johnson in 1939. This statue was salvaged from the Old State Building, which was demolished to make way for the new facility. The dome itself, affectionately known as the "Golden Turtle" by locals, comprises 500-panel aluminum shells supported by an inner steel frame. This innovative design is further bolstered by reinforced concrete arches, ensuring the structural integrity of the dome.

In recognition of its architectural significance and historical importance, the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This designation solidifies its status as a treasured landmark and a testament to Reno's commitment to preserving its cultural heritage.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Reno. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 51爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts
Sight Location: Reno, USA (See walking tours in Reno)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Reno Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Reno, Nevada

Create Your Own Walk in Reno

Creating your own self-guided walk in Reno is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Reno Introduction Walking Tour

Curbed by the Californian border in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Nevada, the town of Reno is "where the heart of the Wild West still beats." This quote, loosely attributed to the legendary musician Johnny Cash, captures the essence of Reno as a place that embodies the adventurous and independent spirit of American pioneers.

Reno, nicknamed "The Biggest Little City... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles

Historical Houses Tour

Throughout its nearly 150-year-long history, Reno has reinvented itself several times. In the 19th century, cattle barons, mine speculators, and bank presidents favored this once arid little town as a place of residence. Building their mansions with extensive gardens on the high bluff above the Truckee River, they eventually transformed it into what author Walter Van Tilburg Clark later described... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles

Reno's Top Casinos Walking Tour

"The world is a casino, and everyone's a gambler." These words by "Nick the Greek", one of the legends in gambling history of the United States, seem ever so true in Reno. Once the gambling capital of the US 鈥� up until the mid-20th century, when it handed the status over to Las Vegas, 鈥� this town still draws thousands of visitors each year, from all over the world,... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles

51爆料网