814 Victorian Ave. Sparks, NV 89431

Virtual Exhibits

The Sparks
Back Shops
A History of the Last Railroad Buildings in Sparks, Nevada

With Union Pacific looking to demolish the Sparks Back Shop buildings, we want to appreciate their grandeur and history while they still stand. Those who worked under the shop’s roofs created the City of Sparks and their legacy remains with the community today. We hope these photos will connect you with those who came before and remind us all to appreciate the historic spaces that remain in our community because they may not be here forever.

When You Just
Can’t Look Away
Historic Train Wrecks
of Sparks and the
Southern Pacific

The city of Sparks, known by its moniker the “Rail City,” was founded on the ever-reliable and punctual railroad industry. But even a railroad isn’t infallible and, as is often said about train wrecks, you “just can’t look away.” Through this rich collection of photographs, you will have a chance to examine for yourself several train derailments, accidents, and wrecks of the Southern Pacific Railroad in the Sparks and surrounding Truckee Meadows area.

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You are
cordially invited
A Love affair
with bridal gowns
in Sparks, Nevada

Celebrate 120 years of Sparks fashion, history and heritage with these twelve wedding dresses. Each dress tells the story of the fashion trends, societal values and historical events of specific time periods – all converging within the life of a woman who fell in love and chose to say “I do.” While these dresses reflect a changing world, their tales are as old as time.

These virtual exhibits were made possible by the Community
Foundation of Northern Nevada and by Union Pacific.