House & Home
Wed, December 3, 2025
Reno's Luella Garvey House Restored and Listed on National Register
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Published in House and Home on Wednesday, December 3rd 2025 at 18:57 GMT by Reno Gazette-Journal- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Luella Garvey House: Reno’s Historic Jewel Returns to Life
Reno’s storied past is being revitalized this week as the city celebrates the successful restoration and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) listing of the Luella Garvey House. The 1913 Victorian‑style residence—now at 423 West 3rd Street—has long stood as a symbol of the city’s early‑20th‑century boom, and its return to the public eye underscores Reno’s commitment to preserving its architectural heritage.
A Snapshot of History
The house was designed by noted Reno architect James A. McKinnon and constructed in 1912 for Luella Garvey, a prominent local entrepreneur and philanthropist who championed women’s suffrage and education. Garvey’s family operated the Garvey Trading Company, one of the first wholesale businesses in downtown Reno. Though she passed away in 1945, her legacy lived on in the city’s civic projects and the house itself, which served as both a family home and a venue for early civic meetings.
Over the decades, the house changed hands several times, eventually being repurposed as a community center by the 1970s. While it continued to provide a service to locals, the structure suffered from neglect: a sagging roof, cracked plaster, and outdated electrical systems. Its historical value remained, however, and in 2019, the Nevada Historical Preservation Office added it to the state’s registry of historic sites.
Architectural Highlights
The Luella Garvey House is an excellent example of the Queen Anne style, notable for its asymmetrical façade, ornate spindlework, and wrap‑around porch. Inside, original wood trim, stained‑glass windows, and a grand staircase have been meticulously restored. The renovation team, led by the local firm Reno Restoration Partners, prioritized authenticity. For instance, the original oak flooring was salvaged from the original planks whenever possible, and period‑appropriate paint palettes were selected based on paint‑stripping tests.
The restoration was not only about cosmetic fixes. Energy efficiency was a key goal. Engineers installed a high‑efficiency HVAC system hidden within the attic, upgraded insulation without compromising the historical character, and replaced windows with double‑glazed units that mimic the original sash profiles.
Funding the Revival
The total cost of the project was $680,000, with funding sources that reflect a mix of public, private, and philanthropic support. Reno City contributed $200,000 through its historic preservation fund. The National Trust for Historic Preservation granted $150,000, and the Reno Women’s History Fund—an organization founded by Luella’s granddaughter—donated $100,000. A generous donation from The Garvey Family Foundation covered $120,000, ensuring that the house could be fully restored to its former glory.
In addition, volunteers from the Reno Historical Society and local high‑school architecture students contributed labor and research assistance, bringing the total volunteer hours to over 2,400.
Community Engagement and Future Plans
The NRHP listing, announced on December 3, 2025, formally recognizes the house’s significance to Reno’s cultural heritage. It also provides the building with certain protections and makes it eligible for future preservation grants. City officials say the listing “solidifies our city’s commitment to honoring our past while investing in our future.”
The house will soon become an interactive museum dedicated to the life and times of Luella Garvey and the broader story of women in Nevada. The museum’s first exhibit, slated to open in spring 2026, will feature archival photographs, personal artifacts, and a digital timeline of the suffrage movement in the region.
“We’re not just preserving a building; we’re preserving a narrative,” said Mayor Emily Chen at the ceremony. “The Luella Garvey House tells a story of resilience, community, and progress that resonates with all Renoans.”
In addition to its museum role, the restored house will host community events such as summer concert series and annual heritage tours. The city plans to create a partnership with the Nevada Historical Society to ensure that the house remains an educational resource for both residents and visitors.
Looking Forward
The renovation of the Luella Garvey House is more than a preservation project; it’s a bridge between past and present. By restoring the architectural splendor of a key piece of Reno’s history, the city has demonstrated how heritage can coexist with modern needs. The project serves as a model for other historic structures in the area, showing that with careful planning, community support, and adequate funding, historic buildings can be revived and repurposed for new generations.
As Reno continues to grow and evolve, projects like this remind us that progress can be measured not only by new skyscrapers and tech hubs but also by the preservation of the stories that shaped the city. The Luella Garvey House stands as a testament to that balance, ready to welcome visitors, scholars, and families alike into a living museum of early 20th‑century Nevada life.
Read the Full Reno Gazette-Journal Article at:
[ https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2025/12/03/luella-garvey-house-reno-register/87593691007/ ]
