Vintage Fresno

Credit card giant VISA was born in Fresno in September 1958 in a test known as "The Fresno Drop." The Bank of America sent out 60,000 "BankAmericards" to local residents, unsolicited. It was the world's first bank-issued credit card. The experiment was a success, the card went national and was renamed VISA in 1976. Hear the story on KVPR's Central Valley Roots... (link below)

Fresno's Azteca Theater was the focal point for Fresno's Latino community in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. Hear the story behind this local landmark on KVPR's Central Valley Roots. (link in comments)

KVPR's Central Valley Roots explores the history of Fresno's Bank of Italy building, an Italian Renaissance inspired-banking palace that's been vacant for five decades. LISTEN (link below)

Historic central Fresno neighborhood monument being restored If you've ever been in the area of Palm and Simpson, near Fresno High, you may have spotted a 12-foot pillar.