Nevada History: On The GO! – Revolutionizing Divorce: How Nevada Changed America’s Marital Landscape (Off-site, SVL)

March 7, 2026, 1 – 2:30 pm
Speaker: Dr. Alicia Barber, historian

For the first six decades of the 20th century, thousands of discontented husbands and wives flocked to Nevada, particularly to Reno, to end their marriages. They were drawn by a unique set of legal provisions that enabled what became known as the migratory divorce trade. This unusual industry not only transformed Nevada’s economy, culture, and image, but also paved the way for the greater acceptance of divorce in American society. Tracing its context back to the marital laws of the colonial era, Dr. Alicia Barber will explain what made the Nevada divorce so revolutionary, for the state and the entire country.

Speaker Bio:

Alicia Barber, Ph.D., is a professional public historian, educator, historic preservation advocate, and recognized authority on the built environment and cultural history of Nevada and the American West. Through her historical consulting firm, Stories in Place LLC, she creates collaborative projects ranging from National Register nominations and oral histories to museum exhibits and permanent historical installations. She is the co-creator of t

he website “Illuminating Reno’s Divorce History” (renodivorcehistory.org) and the editor and co-founder of Reno Historical (renohistorical.org), a map-based digital guide to the city. Her published works include ”Reno’s Big Gamble: Image and Reputation in the Biggest Little City,” as well as dozens of chapters, essays, reports, and articles for scholarly, governmental, and popular publications.