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Nevada Historical Society presents High Noon with Neal Cobb, a wonderful history series that delves into fascinating Nevada topics with local experts. Neal Cobb is a passionate historian and honorary curator for the Nevada Historical Society. He loves all things Nevada. Join Neal Cobb and our monthly speakers as we explore interesting topics and join in the audience conversations.

We will talk about what prompted us to purchase the Newlands Mansion, a national historic landmark back in 1984. We will talk about our interactions with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, using the US Department of the Interior Standards for Historic Preservation guided our rehabilitation efforts, and our journey along the way. We will show before and today’s photos of the work we completed, revitalizing our historic home, along with a landscape layout and a list of plants we incorporated into the landscape. 

While their talk for this presentation, will focus on their “Journey Thru Time at the Newlands Mansion, NHL”, other properties they’ve restored and activated include the historic Hawkins House and 340 California Avenue, which is the site of My Favorite Muffin & Bagel Café. 

July Speaker:  Melinda and Dan Gustin

The Gustins have been longtime historic preservationists, not only as advocates, but also as active restorers of landmark properties. They received the Reno HRC Advocacy Award in 1997, and the Historic Preservation Award in 2007, in recognition of their rehabilitation of the Newlands Mansion.  

Dan served as a City of Reno Councilman from 2004-2012 and served as the City’s liaison to the Historic Resources Commission.  Dan was the “Voice of the Wolf Pack” for UNR’s men’s sports on television and radio for 32 years. He was inducted into the Nevada Broadcaster’s Association Hall of Fame and the UNR Athletic Hall of Fame.  

Melinda is a landscape historian and Master Gardener. After her career in business and human resource, she earned degrees in architecture and landscape architecture. She has served on the City of Reno’s Historic Resources Commission, and since 2006, has been the Nevada Advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and serves on several Landscape Architect boards.

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