St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral listed in National Register of Historic Places

The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (NSHPO) is excited to announce that the National Parks Service has added Reno’s St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral to its National Register of Historic Places. This historic cathedral is an iconic landmark in downtown Reno, featuring a unique melding of architectural styles including extravagant bell towers – each topped with a domed cupola – and a symmetrical front façade with three processional doors. The cathedral complex, which includes a school and rectory building, dominates the corner of West Second Street and Arlington Avenue in downtown Reno.  

The National Register recognizes places that are of historic and cultural significance, and expands opportunities for grant funding and tax incentives focused on preserving and protecting these special sites for generations to come.

Listing the St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral Complex in the National Register recognizes the cathedral’s extraordinary architectural style and its significance to the Reno community. The complex features a combination of Renaissance Revival, Classical Revival, and Spanish Colonial Revival styles, and is the only property of its kind in Reno.

“The one-of-a-kind St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral is one of Reno’s most spectacular architectural treasures. Along with its rich history, the cathedral complex also houses the Honors Academy of Literature, a state charter school for over 200 K-8 students in Northern Nevada,” said Rebecca Palmer, Administrator of the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office. “The National Register listing will help advance efforts to preserve and protect this historic landmark for generations to come.”

“The church has served as an anchor in downtown Reno for over a hundred years, welcoming residents, immigrants, and tourists alike,” said Father Chuck Durante, Rector at St. Thomas Aquinas. “There are countless stories of lives that weave through these buildings, and this designation on the National Register of Historic Places helps ensure that there will be many, many more stories to be created.” 

The cathedral building was completed and dedicated in 1910, serving as Reno’s only Catholic church until 1938. The cathedral features rusticated stone and brick, rounded stained-glass windows, molded cornices, and Classical columns. The interior displays a vaulted ceiling, ornately carved confessional booths, and an organ loft framed by decorated arches. Both the accompanying school building and the rectory building are noted examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, and were designed by noted Nevada architect Frederic DeLongchamps in 1931, the same year the church was elevated to cathedral status. 

For more information about this listing or the National Register program, please contact the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office at (775) 684-3448 or shpo-info@shpo.nv.gov.