Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Reno, Ghid vizitatori și ce de văzut în apropiere

The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts is a theatre on South Virginia Street in Reno, Nevada, topped by a gold geodesic dome that locals call the Golden Turtle. Completed in 1967, it is one of downtown Reno's most recognisable buildings and still hosts live performances.

The story behind it

The theatre was finished in 1967 to designs by Bozalis, Dickinson and Roloff, an architecture firm from Oklahoma City. The dome was built by the contractor Temcor, a company working in the geodesic tradition made famous by the inventor Buckminster Fuller. That shape gave Reno a landmark unlike anything else on its main street.

The nickname comes from the silhouette. The orchestra level sits below ground, so the dome sweeps down until its edges come close to the pavement. From the street the whole building seems to crouch low, like a large golden shell resting on the city.

What to look for

• The gold geodesic dome itself, made of a lattice of panels that catch the sun and change colour through the day.
• The place where the dome comes down close to the pavement, which explains the Golden Turtle nickname.
• The low profile of the building, which hints that much of the theatre lies below street level.
• The contrast between the dome and the casinos and older buildings along Virginia Street.

Tips for your visit

• Ten minutes is enough to walk around the outside and take photographs, longer if you are attending a performance.
• Daylight shows the gold shell best, so visit in the morning or afternoon if you only want to see the exterior.
• You can go inside for performances, so check the current event schedule and opening hours before you plan on it.
• It sits on Virginia Street in the middle of downtown and is a short walk from the Truckee River, so it combines easily with a stroll through the centre.

See it on a quest

Ghost Hunt in Reno brings you to the Pioneer Center on foot as one stop on a longer route through downtown. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. It suits anyone who likes their sightseeing with a spooky edge. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Reno is a good choice if you would rather solve something than just look. You walk between the stops, hear about each building as you reach it, and work out a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Christmas Operation: Sleigh Down in Reno gives the same format a festive theme. You reach the dome as part of a walk around the area, learn about it from the app and solve a puzzle on the street. One ticket covers the whole group.