Twaddle Mansion

Nevada, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

Find out more

Heritage registerNational Register of Historic Places↗

Built in 1905 for Reno rancher Ebenezer "Eben" Twaddle by contractor Benjamin Leon, this two-story frame house exemplifies Colonial Revival architecture—an unusual stylistic choice for Nevada executed with notable opulence. The richly ornamented first floor showcases clustered Ionic columns framing the entry porch's frieze and pediment, with the curved porch extending around the west side to accommodate the corner lot. The east facade features an extensively decorated hooded window, while two-story Ionic pilasters mark the corners and turned balusters link the porch columns. The second floor presents a more austere treatment, with beveled glass windows set beneath eaves supported by decorative brackets. A hipped roof with diamond-pane dormers completes the design. Beyond its architectural significance, the mansion reflects Reno's transformation into a divorce destination following liberalized Nevada laws. Twaddle, a prominent civic figure who served as city councilman, hospital administrator, and fire marshal, saw his residence later adapted as a Baháʼí religious center and eventually converted to commercial use. The National Register of Historic Places recognized the building in 1983.