The Sparks Museum Podcast

by Sparks Heritage Museum

Season 2

Sustaining a City with Sparks City Manager Dion Louthan

In Episode 4 of our second season, City Manager Dion Louthan speaks about his journey to Sparks, the creation of programs and amenities to match the continued expansion of the Sparks, the role of a City Manager in a community, and what makes Sparks unique! The Sparks Heritage Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook and Instagram at @sparksmuseum. Season 2 is brought to you by Champagne Family Dentistry and the Rotary Club of Sparks.

S2 · E4

Aug 4, 2026

42:55

S2 Ep 3 - Remembering Karl’s Silver Club with Patty Berge Montelongo and Edward Berge

Episode 3 of our second season features two very special guests — Patty Berge Montelongo and Edward Berge. They are children of Karl Berge, who owned the casino hotel Karl’s Silver Club at 1040 Victorian Avenue, and they both worked at their father’s business and have a trove of memories and stories of their experiences at Karl’s Silver Club. Patty has also generously provided us with photos from her family and the Silver Club, To see them, visit @sparksmuseum on Facebook and Instagram. The Sparks Heritage Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook and Instagram at @sparksmuseum. Season 2 is brought to you by Champagne Family Dentistry and the Rotary Club of Sparks.

S2 · E3

Jul 21, 2026

55:33

S2 Ep 2 - Serving with Pride with Sparks Fire Chief Walt White

Episode 2 of our second season features an interview with Sparks Fire Chief Walt White, who has worked in fire service for nearly 40 years between the Bay Area and Sparks. On the day of this podcast’s release (June 30th, 2026) is Chief White's final day of service before his retirement. On the podcast, we discuss his career path, Sparks Fire Department history, and ways to be more fire aware in our community. We wish Chief White all the best in his retirement, and thank him dearly for keeping Sparks and the surrounding communities safe! This release date also coincides with the opening of a brand new exhibit at the Sparks Heritage Museum. Titled "Serving with Pride," the exhibit honors over a century of the history of the Sparks Fire Department, from its humble beginnings as a volunteer organization, to the department as we know it today. The exhibit features both vintage and modern equipment, historic images, stories, and information about the department. Come see the newest addition to the museum’s permanent gallery today! The Sparks Heritage Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook and Instagram at @sparksmuseum. Season 2 is brought to you by Champagne Family Dentistry and the Rotary Club of Sparks.

S2 · E2

Jun 30, 2026

53:15

S2 Ep 1 - Visiting the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum with Billie Jean Guerrero

Welcome to the first episode of Season 2 of The Sparks Museum Podcast, with host Jessica Johnson. Season 2 is brought to you by Champagne Family Dental and the Sparks Rotary Club. The City of Sparks' tagline is "It's all Happening Here," and on this season of The Sparks Museum Podcast, we will introduce you to just a few of the many people who "make it happen" by making a difference in our community. In this episode, the Billie Jean Guerrero, born and raised in Sparks and the director of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum & Visitor Center for the past 10 years, discusses the history of the museum, environmental impacts on Pyramid Lake, and her work with the Paiute Tribe’s cultural commission in educational programming and events that unite the Paiute community. The museum is located at 709 State Street in Nixon, Nevada, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit them online at https://pyramidlake.us/museum. The Sparks Heritage Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

S2 · E1

Jun 9, 2026

45:49

Season 1

Episode 18 - Celebrating Season 1 of The Sparks Museum Podcast with Dr. Christine Johnson!

On this final episode of Season 1 of the Sparks Museum Podcast, Dr. Christine Johnson, Executive Director of the Sparks Museum, discusses her efforts in the museum to date and her hopes for the future of the museum and this podcast. We have been proud to feature Sparks stories from local experts, historians, and personalities, bringing you an in-depth insight into the moments that have given this city that unique “spark” that you can’t quite find anywhere else. We hope to return for a Season 2, but can’t do it without you! Please share our podcast and consider donating to the Sparks Museum’s efforts at our website at www.sparksmuseum.org. This episode along with the entire first season of the Sparks Museum Podcast is available at https://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays.For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

S1 · E18

Jun 16, 2023

38:16

Episode 17 - Remembering John Ascuaga's Nugget with Stephen Ascuaga!

On this episode of The Sparks Museum Podcast, we welcome Stephen Ascuaga, Corporate Director of Business Development at the Peppermill Casino, and former Chief Operating Officer at the Nugget Casino in Sparks. He is also son of one of Nevada’s most prominent businessmen and beloved local icon John Ascuaga. Stephen discusses his father's legacy and the legacy of his family, the growth and impact the Nugget Casino has made on the City of Sparks, and many personal stories about interactions with guests and of course, the ever-famous Bertha the Elephant. This episode along with the entire season of the Sparks Museum Podcast so far is available at https://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays.For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

S1 · E17

May 26, 2023

52:37

Episode 16 - Understanding Governor John Sparks with Dr. Michael Fischer!

On this episode of The Sparks Museum Podcast, Dr. Michael Fischer speaks about the life and history of Governor John Sparks. One of Dr. Fischer's foremost passions is Chautauqua, and he has performed as John Sparks for many years and for many different events and speaking engagements. He speaks about the history of “Honest John,” the tenth governor of Nevada for whom the city of Sparks is named. He shares the research he has accumulated over the years regarding this ambitious, important historical figure and his many adventures, as well as his own history as a Chautauquan. This episode along with the entire season of the Sparks Museum Podcast so far is available at https://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays.For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

S1 · E16

May 5, 2023

43:19

Episode 15 - Full Steam Ahead with Adam Michalski on the History of Sparks Transportation

On this episode of The Sparks Museum Podcast, Adam Michalski, the current curator of education at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, discusses the history of the railroads of Northern Nevada. He covers the various steam-and electric powered locomotives and vehicles that built the economy and population of the city of Sparks in its earliest years, as well as his own history studying railroads and some of the recent efforts of the Nevada State Railroad Museum. This episode along with the entire season of the Sparks Museum Podcast so far is available at https://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays. For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

S1 · E15

Apr 14, 2023

54:14

Episode 14 - Eating Up the History of The Coney Island Bar with Greg & Dana Galletti

On this episode of The Sparks Museum Podcast, Greg and Dana Galletti speak about their role as owners and managers of The Coney Island Bar, the history of the Galletti family, the longevity of their ever-popular restaurant, how it became listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the importance of Coney Island to the Sparks community today.This episode along with the entire season of the Sparks Museum Podcast so far is available at https://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays.For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

S1 · E14

Mar 17, 2023

27:08

Episode 13 - Preserving Sparks History with Dr. Alicia Barber

On this episode of The Sparks Museum Podcast, researcher, historian and writer Dr. Alicia Barber speaks about the changing landscape of the Reno-Sparks area, her research on East 4th Street and Prater Way, and Sparks’ need for a historic commission. This episode along with the entire season of the Sparks Museum Podcast so far is available at ihttps://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays. For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

S1 · E13

Feb 25, 2023

1:06:49

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