Nevada Magazine History
Always an information source for Nevada residents and tourists, what started as a digest-sized bulletin has grown into a colorful magazine.
Photo: Nevada Highways & Parks, January 1936
State highway publicist and Nevada Highways and Parks editor Fred Greulich wrote a majority of the articles and collected photos that promoted Nevada’s open roads—albeit in black and white.
During World War II, operation of the magazine ceased for five years. When production resumed, color photographs were used for the first time. In 1964, eight years after Donald L. Bowers replaced Greulich, the magazine was converted from a free publication into one with paid subscriptions, national distribution, and advertising. It was in Bowers’ editor’s note in the 1964 Special Centennial Issue that the publication was first referred to as Nevada Magazine. However, it wasn’t until the Fall 1975 issue, when the magazine fell under the Department of Economic Development, that “Nevada Magazine” was used on the masthead.
Bowers’ 19 years as editor concluded in 1975. He was replaced for a short term by Judy Casey, who was succeeded that same year by Caroline J. Hadley, former managing editor of Car and Driver based in New York City. Hadley shaped the modern magazine—the name was officially shortened to Nevada Magazine, the frequency changed from quarterly to bimonthly, and it became a division of the Nevada Commission on Tourism. Kirk Whisler took over for Hadley in 1985, and in his six-year tenure the magazine became self-supporting and entered the era of desktop publishing. Whisler also introduced an Events section that evolved into an Events & Shows publication, which included calendars of each issue’s two-month shelf life featuring noteworthy attractions around the state.
From 1991 to 2006, Richard Moreno and David Moore acted as publisher and editor, respectively, providing the publication with an important period of stability. Moore tallied 28 years at Nevada Magazine, writing articles and building relationships with freelance writers and photographers, many of whom still contribute to the approximately 90-page magazine. Joyce Hollister assumed the role of editor in early 2006 after working as associate editor for four years.
In early 2007, shortly after the arrival of publisher Deb Dudley, the magazine underwent a dramatic redesign, introducing a more contemporary look. Dudley aimed to capture the Nevada lifestyle by adding living and style sections to the magazine’s tourism flavor. In late 2007, Hollister became publisher and Matthew B. Brown, associate editor since August 2006, took over as editor. In July 2008, Hollister retired, and Janet M. Geary took over as publisher. In 2009, the magazine went back to its tourism roots, while maintaining a modern design.
In 2014, Matthew B. Brown resigned as editor, and Geary hired newspaper and website journalist Megg Mueller to take over. Janet Geary retired in 2020, after 12 years with the magazine. Mueller stepped into the leadership role as executive editor and in 2022, Nevada Magazine‘s staff merged with Travel Nevada, which is also a division of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. Nevada Magazine became Nevada Magazine & Visitor Guide. The publication ceased its subscription requirement. In 2025, the publication began producing two issues per year—Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter—and also publishes the Nevada Adventure Guide, devoted to outdoor recreation.
