“Rush To Reno: Millionaires in the One Sound State” is a current exhibit at the Wilbur D. May Museum, 1595 N. Sierra St., on the premises of Rancho San Rafael Regional Park (just north and west of Downtown Reno and the University of Nevada, Reno).
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| Entrance to the Wilbur D. May Museum at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Reno, Nevada |
The exhibit explains Nevada’s first major marketing campaign — which didn’t focus on Las Vegas but on the Reno-Tahoe area. In the 1920s, real estate promoters pitched Lake Tahoe land to affluent San Franciscans. After the stock market crash in 1929, Nevada recovered faster than other states due to the construction of the Hoover Dam and other federal projects. In 1933, FDR’s New Deal boosted Nevada with more federal money per capita than any other state, for road, sewer and trail projects.
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| Displays from the "Rush To Reno" exhibit at Wilbur D. May Museum |
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| Postcard publicizing Nevada as The One Sound State |
Meanwhile, in 1931, the state legislature legalized casino gambling and introduced a short residency requirement (just six weeks!) to obtain a divorce in Nevada. Next, when Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Reno, then the biggest city in Nevada, became a popular tourist destination. Las Vegas didn’t flourish until 20 years later.
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| Symbols of 1930s Reno vice and recreation |
The “Rush To Reno” exhibit features some wacky visual and audio odes to Reno’s fame as a premier place to quickly untie the knot. There’s a poster of a woman giving her ex-husband the boot, and tossing her wedding ring into the Truckee River.
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| A poster making light of a heavy subect: quickie divorces in Reno |
You can also hear a sample of “I’m On My Way To Reno,” an irreverent song about the benefits of divorce.
Getting back to the theme of millionaires in the One Sound State, “Rush to Reno” notes that Wilbur D. May, vice-president of the May Department Stores in the early 1930s, first arrived in Reno for a visit in 1936. In 1938, May purchased 2,600 acres in South Reno that became the Double Diamond Ranch.
Getting back to the theme of millionaires in the One Sound State, “Rush to Reno” notes that Wilbur D. May, vice-president of the May Department Stores in the early 1930s, first arrived in Reno for a visit in 1936. In 1938, May purchased 2,600 acres in South Reno that became the Double Diamond Ranch.
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| Wilbur May's initials led to the Double Diamond Brand |
Part of the “Rush To Reno” exhibit offers stories and photos of “The Man Behind the Ranch,” Hugh Richardson. He oversaw operations at the Double Diamond Ranch for 25 years. You might say Hugh Richardson was to the Double Diamond Ranch what Ray Krebbs was to the Southfork Ranch on TV’s “Dallas”.
There’s also a section about a highly publicized break-in at the Double Diamond Ranch, by “Nevada’s No. 1 Hoodlum,” James Burton “Jimmy” Ing.
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| Fun facts about a big break-in at the Double Diamond Ranch |
In the “Rush to Reno” exhibit, it is revealed that May was one of just seven wealthy people on the first commercial trans-Pacific flight from California to the Philippines in 1936.
Not only a successful businessman and rancher, May was a soldier, a skilled pilot, world traveler, artist, songwriter, big-game hunter, collector of art and artifacts and a champion of underprivileged children, giving away millions of dollars to educate them.
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| A brief video presentation tells the fantastic life story of Reno millionaire and philanthropist Wilbur D. May |
“Rush To Reno” also pays tribute to other 1930s movers and shakers, whose names and contributions to the Reno community are still familiar today: Max Fleischmann, E.L.Cord, LaVere Redfield and so on.
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| "Rush To Reno" honors additional Reno millionaires who gave back to the community |
Elsewhere throughout the Wilbur D. May Museum are rare and remarkable treasures representing the fabulous life and times of this true Renaissance Man.
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| Trophies and art from the Tack Room at the Double Diamond Ranch |
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| Exotic souvenirs from Wilbur D. May's big game hunts |
The May Museum is a must-see for history lovers of all ages and an underrated attraction, particularly for Reno visitors seeking a quiet and convenient getaway from the downtown casinos.
“Rush To Reno: Millionaires in the One Sound State” runs through Sept. 14, 2014 at the May Museum.
Admission to the museum is $5.00 for adults, $3.50 for seniors (62+) or ages 3-17, and free for children 2 and under. Usual hours, year-round, are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Sat. and noon-4 p.m. Sun. Call ahead to check on holiday or special event closures.
For information, call (775) 785-5961 or visit www.maycenter.com.
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