Palm Springs is not simply a place where modern architecture exists; it is where Desert Modernism was born, refined, and made world-famous. Beginning in the 1920s and flourishing through the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s, visionary architects transformed this once-remote desert village into an international…
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The colored doors of Palm Springs are delightful and popular. This self-guided tour takes you through some colored doors in South Palm Springs neighborhoods. Here, you can admire the vibrant, uniquely designed doors of many homes. This tour is great for exploring the city's architectural beauty and…
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Palm Springs is one of California’s most tour-rich destinations, offering guided and self-guided experiences that explore everything from midcentury modern architecture and Hollywood history to Indigenous culture, desert canyons, seismic landscapes, and culinary hotspots. Whether you want to tour…
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A Historic Gem of Palm Springs Designed by Albert Frey The Palm Springs Visitor Information Center is one of the city’s most iconic and recognizable landmarks. The Palm Springs Visitor Center is often the first landmark for travelers entering Palm Springs from the north or heading to the Palm…
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Desert Modernism, Resort Architecture, and the Postwar Transformation of Palm Springs William Cody (1916–1978) was one of the most influential yet often underrecognized architects shaping Palm Springs during the rise of midcentury modern desert architecture. His work bridged International Style…
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Thursday, February 12 - Sunday, February 22 Palm Springs Modernism Week is a vibrant annual celebration dedicated to the midcentury modern design that has shaped this iconic desert city. Each February, design enthusiasts from around the world gather to experience a lineup of tours, exhibitions…
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We look forward to you joining us for Modernism Week - October 2026 This page will be updated for the 2026 events when they are announced. These events below are from October 16 - 19, 2025. Signature Event Highlight Modernism Week Featured Home Tour: Sackley Chase Sensation Dates: Oct 16–19, Price:…
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Emerson Stewart Williams (1909–2005) was one of the most influential architects shaping the modern desert architectural aesthetic of Palm Springs. His work blends International Style modernism with a deep sensitivity to the desert landscape, resulting in iconic residences, commercial buildings, and…
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Albert Frey didn’t just design buildings in Palm Springs; he helped invent the architectural language of desert modernism itself. Through an approach grounded in climate, landscape, and modernist restraint, Frey shaped a city whose identity remains inseparable from midcentury architecture. His work…
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Howard Lapham’s Palm Springs Vision Among the architects who helped define Palm Springs’ architectural identity, Howard Lapham remains less well known but no less important. Working alongside (and often in competition with) figures such as William F. Cody, E. Stewart Williams, Donald Wexler, and…
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