Our Collection
The Sparks Heritage Foundation and Museum is home to thousands of artifacts, photographs, and printed materials, each of which illustrate the rich history of Sparks and the Truckee Meadows. With these items, our museum carefully crafts informative exhibits to expand the public’s knowledge of our local history. Though not all items can be displayed at once, we rotate items from our collection into and out of our permanent exhibits to give all of our visitors a unique learning experience each time they visit.
Indoor Exhibits
Behind the doors of our museum lie numerous exhibits telling the story of Sparks and the Truckee Meadows from their inception to the modern day.
Visitors can immerse themselves in Sparks’s roots as a railroad town born just after the turn of the century, examine the tools for everyday life and communications in the early twentieth century, or discover the role our region played in both World War II and the moon landing.
Furthermore, certain of our exhibits highlight specific cultures and institutions that have been integral to our regional history. Among these are an exhibit dedicated to Nevada’s Native American tribes and another featuring our very own Sparks High School.
Outdoor Exhibits
Outside our primary building, there is still much to see. The Sparks Heritage Museum boasts several outdoor exhibits to complement our indoor offerings. Across the street from the museum, in Lillard Park, are the following outdoor attractions:
- A preserved railroad bridge built by Chinese immigrants
- A memorial to the Chinese railroad workers
- A replica of a Southern Pacific Depot
- A Bicentennial Train display
- A Southern Pacific Steam Locomotive (Number 8) built in 1907
- A radio-equipped cupola caboose built in 1941
- A 1911 Pullman passenger railcar, converted to an executive car in the 1920’s and refurbished in 1976 by Harrah’s for the United States Bicentennial
- The Glendale Schoolhouse built in 1864 which had been attended by Senator McCarran
Behind the museum, in the Memorial Park, are the following:
- Statues honoring our police and firefighters
- Memorial plaques honoring Sparks residents who gave their lives during the Korean War and in the line of duty as police officers and firefighters
We also offer copies of the Historic Sparks Walking Tour, featuring six nationally registered buildings within easy walking distance of our museum.
Last Chance Joe
Just outside, in front of our museum, we also proudly display a 32-foot-tall statue of Last Chance Joe, the character which served as a symbol of the Sparks Nugget Casino for over five decades. In 2014, the statue was relocated to the Sparks Heritage Museum; and since then, he has stood as a cheerful symbol of Sparks’s heritage!
Our Building
The building which today houses the Sparks Heritage Museum was originally designed by Nevada architect Fredrich DeLongchamps and constructed in 1931 by Rousch and Belz Contractors to be the first public library in Sparks. Built in the Mediterranean Revival style unique to our area, its colorful exterior of Flemish bond brick, its distinctive red-tiled roof, and its dramatic arched entry make it a captivating work of architecture.
This structure, the Sparks Branch Washoe County Library, was Washoe County’s first gift to Sparks and operated from 1931 to 1964, serving as a meeting place for many civic organizations.
Originally, the library was located only on the building’s second floor while the county justice court occupied its lower level. However, in 1965, the library was moved and the justice court expanded to fill the entire building. Around this time, the building’s interior was remodeled.
In 1984, the structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
After the justice court was also relocated from the building, the City of Sparks began utilizing the facility’s upstairs for offices, and the Sparks Heritage Museum expanded into its downstairs. In January 2008, the Sparks Heritage Museum was granted occupancy of the entire building and work on a five-year revitalization plan began.
Two phases of this plan led to the restoration of the historical integrity of the building’s upper level, now the Cultural Center. This project rehabilitated the interior to reflect and exhibit the architecture of the 1930s. Original architectural features were accentuated, and woodwork typical of the period was incorporated.
Today, the building is one of only five non-residential buildings designed by Fredrick DeLonchamps left standing in Sparks, and it is our city’s oldest extant government building.
