Skip to ContentThe arch, the $100 slogan contest and the neon, from Reno Historical. Story first, then the record.
Checked November 3, 2026. Every claim below names the page it was read on.
TrueNot a verified fact until the answer says so
The Story
Reno’s downtown arch carries the “Biggest Little City in the World” slogan, and the slogan came from a public contest.
What Is Actually True
- Reno Historical (article by Cindy Ainsworth) says a steel arch was erected in 1926 at Commercial Row and Virginia Street for $5,500 to promote the 1927 Nevada Transcontinental Highways Exposition, with a dedication on Oct. 23, 1926 [1].
- Mayor E. E. Roberts asked residents for a slogan; none was acceptable at first, so the city offered $100, awarded on March 14, 1929 to G. A. Burns of Sacramento for “Reno, Biggest Little City in the World” [1].
- In 1934-35 neon replaced the slogan with a green “RENO” and, after public protest, the slogan returned in Art Deco neon [1].
- In 1963 the original arch was replaced for Nevada’s 100th birthday; the current Virginia Street arch has stood since 1987, and the original arch was reconstructed on Lake Street near the National Automobile Museum in 1995 [1].
Still Unconfirmed
Whether the 1963 date is disputed (one secondary source lists 1967); the exact 1987 date of the current arch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the slogan?
G. A. Burns of Sacramento won the $100 prize on March 14, 1929 [1].
How old is the first arch?
Erected in 1926 [1].
Where is the original?
Reconstructed on Lake Street near the National Automobile Museum since 1995 [1].
Sources
- Reno Arch article by Cindy Ainsworth, Reno Historical. Read 2026-11-03.
Cite this page: It’s Reno editorial team, “The Reno Arch and “Biggest Little City”,” itsreno.com/legends/reno-arch-biggest-little-city/, checked November 3, 2026. Legends are labelled as legends; ghost stories are never invented.