A historical plaque honoring the Liberty Belle Saloon & Restaurant will be dedicated Saturday in Reno, commemorating a landmark that operated for nearly five decades and became a fixture of Northern Nevada's dining, social and gambling culture.
The dedication ceremony is scheduled for noon Saturday, August 8, in front of the Reno-Sparks Convention Center located at 4454 S. Virginia Street. Community members, preservation advocates, historians and the public are invited to attend. The program will include the unveiling of the plaque and recognition of the Liberty Belle's legacy as a gathering place for meals, meetings, performances and memories.
The Liberty Belle opened in 1958 when brothers Marshall and Frank Fey established the business on the site of the former Li'l Red Barn, then located on the outskirts of Reno. The saloon and restaurant was named after a slot machine designed by their grandfather, Charles Fey, the inventor of the slot machine.
Over nearly 50 years, the Liberty Belle became known for its collection of antique slot machines, many crafted by the Fey family. Along with its restaurant and saloon, the business served as a meeting place for local gatherings and melodramatic performances. Its old-West theme, rooftop surreys and buckboards, and historic slot machine displays became defining features of the property.
The Liberty Belle closed in 2006 as the surrounding area continued to grow and change, ending its nearly half-century run while leaving a lasting place in Reno's cultural history.
“This plaque gives residents and visitors a lasting way to remember the Liberty Belle Saloon and the people, stories, and artifacts that made it part of Northern Nevada’s cultural landscape,” said Tim Pearce, a member of the Julia C. Bulette Chapter 1864 of E Clampus Vitus. “It is a tribute not only to a former gathering place, but also to the preservation of local history.”
“Preserving places like the Liberty Belle helps tell a fuller story of Nevada,” said Matthew Ebert, also a member of E Clampus Vitus. “These landmarks remind us how local businesses, family histories, and public memory shape the identity of our communities.”
The plaque is being dedicated by the Julia C. Bulette Chapter No. 1864 of E Clampus Vitus.
