Who We are
The Sparks Heritage Foundation and Museum, Inc. is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving the historic and cultural heritage of Sparks and the Truckee Meadows region.
Since our establishment on April 1, 1985, we have taken pride in telling the diverse stories of our city’s founders and residents through our educational exhibits and programs, special events, and community collaborations. Additionally, for over a quarter century, we have been a product of the Preserve America Community, operating almost exclusively on volunteer labor.
The Sparks Heritage Foundation and Museum, Inc., always works to provide a welcoming and safe environment for people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and nationalities.
Our organization, staff, and volunteers are prohibited from discriminating against anyone on the basis of their religion, political beliefs, socio-economic status, language, national origin, ethnicity, skin color, age, mental or physical disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status; and we further denounce any discrimination or violence towards anyone based on the same.
Our Facilities
Though the Sparks Museum’s first home was just a small room in the basement of City Hall, it quickly outgrew its quarters. Recognizing our organization’s value to the community, the City of Sparks provided us with an empty storefront at 820 Victorian Avenue; and in 1995, Washoe County also contributed, donating the former Sparks Justice of the Peace building at 814 Victorian Avenue to the City of Sparks for our work.
Today, these two buildings house engaging exhibits, a cultural center, an archival research library, collections storage, and administrative offices.
Our museum also manages an outdoor train exhibit comprised of a steam locomotive, cupola caboose, and Pullman executive car and the historic Glendale Schoolhouse (state historical marker #169).
The schoolhouse, a nationally registered historic building, forms the cornerstone of our museum. It was rehabilitated and opened as a cultural center in November 2011 thanks to a community effort.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that the Sparks Museum is situated on the traditional homelands of the Numu (Northern Paiute), Wašiw (Washoe), Newe (Western Shoshone), Nuwu (Southern Paiute) peoples. These lands have been a place of gathering for Indigenous Peoples and we honor the original caretakers. We recognize their deep connections to these places and extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live and learn in this space.
