Explore Midcentury Icons, Celebrity Homes, and Modernism Week
Palm Springs is a living museum of midcentury modern architecture, where glass walls, clean lines, and desert-adapted designs reflect a golden era of style and innovation. The city's unique architectural identity, shaped from the 1940s through the early 1970s, owes much to visionary architects such as Albert Frey, Richard Neutra, E. Stewart Williams, and Donald Wexler, as well as to the developers who brought these designs to life.
Palm Springs is internationally recognized as one of the most important centers of midcentury modern architecture in the world. With one of the highest concentrations of preserved Desert Modern buildings anywhere, the city offers unparalleled access to the work of influential architects, experimental postwar housing, celebrity-designed estates, and civic landmarks. Architecture tours in Palm Springs range from intimate walking experiences to private home access and festival-only openings, making it one of the best destinations in the U.S. for architectural travel.
Modernism Week Architecture Tours
The Modernism Week Architecture Tours offer an exclusive opportunity to explore Palm Springs' iconic midcentury modern architecture, which has made the city famous worldwide.
The knowledgeable and passionate guides offer in-depth insights into the history, design, and significance of the buildings visited during the tours. They share captivating stories about the architects, their vision, and the cultural and social context of the midcentury modern movement. Their extensive knowledge and engaging storytelling make these experiences informative and enjoyable for architecture enthusiasts, design professionals, and anyone interested in the history and beauty of modernist architecture.
Note these tours are seasonal. View Schedule and Get Tickets
Palm Springs Mod Squad Tours with Kurt Cyr
For an intimate, conversational take on Palm Springs' architectural scene, designer and storyteller Kurt Cyr offers Palm Springs Mod Squad Tours — small-group excursions with a maximum of five guests. Touring in a sleek, air-conditioned minivan, Kurt takes visitors deep into the city's most photogenic neighborhoods.
Essential Palm Springs Tour
A 90-minute exterior tour highlighting the six local architects who defined Palm Springs' Desert Modern style: William Cody, Albert Frey, Hugh Kaptur, William Krisel, Donald Wexler, and E. Stewart Williams. Showcases both residential and commercial works, emphasizing how desert light and landscape shaped their designs.
Interior Tour
A 90-minute guided look inside three mid-century homes. Each features unique, lived-in interiors that reflect Desert Modern principles, originally built for the post-war middle class rather than celebrities. Homes vary depending on availability.
Martini & MCM Architecture Tour
A 90-minute exterior "Rat Pack" tour visiting 1960s celebrity hangouts and homes tied to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Marilyn Monroe. Ends with a stop for a martini and a lesson on its history and preparation.
Kurt's tours combine architectural details with stories about the people who built, lived in, and preserved these homes. He credits Palm Springs' unusually high level of architectural preservation to the city's seasonal-use history; homes were left largely untouched for decades, preserving their original features.
Learn more: Mod Squad Tours: Experience Palm Springs Architecture Up Close
The Modern Tour with Michael Stern
Founded by author and architectural historian Michael Stern, The Modern Tour offers in-depth, private, or small-group tours that provide visitors with rare access to some of Palm Springs' most celebrated and often inaccessible mid-century properties. Stern, co-author of Julius Shulman: Palm Springs, brings extensive scholarly knowledge and personal relationships with homeowners to create an insider experience.
What Makes The Modern Tour Unique:
- Private home access — Opportunities to step inside two architecturally significant residences that are not typically open to the public.
- Tailored itineraries — Each tour is customized to guest interests, whether that's star-owned estates, rare prototypes, or architectural photography highlights.
- Scholarly storytelling — Stern's background ensures in-depth explorations of the social, cultural, and design history behind each structure.
- Notable properties — May include Frey-designed residences, Alexander-built tract homes, and iconic works by William Cody, Donald Wexler, and E. Stewart Williams.
Tours are conducted in comfortable, air-conditioned transportation and typically last around 2 hours, beginning at 10 am and 2 pm.
The Albert Frey House II Experience
No architectural journey through Palm Springs is complete without visiting Frey House II, the personal home of Swiss-born architect Albert Frey. Perched high in the San Jacinto foothills and built in 1964, this 800-square-foot residence is a masterclass in harmonizing design with nature. The Modern Tour is now showing the Albert Frey House II on select tours.
Key Features
- Integration with the landscape — The home is built around a massive boulder that forms part of the living room wall.
- Color palette & materials — Turquoise metal walls to match cholla cactus, pale pink concrete to blend with the mountains, and bright yellow curtains reflecting desert wildflowers.
- Innovative solutions — Sliding cabinet doors in the galley kitchen prevent collisions in narrow spaces; perforated block walls lighten the carport's visual weight.
- Environmental design — East-west orientation for passive heating and cooling; floor-to-ceiling glass for natural light and panoramic views.
Frey House II is owned by the Palm Springs Art Museum, which offers limited public access, often during Modernism Week and on Saturdays. As the highest residence in Palm Springs when built, it remains an iconic example of desert modernism.
Stop in at the Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion for special exhibitions.
Walking Tours with the Palm Springs Historical Society
If you prefer to explore on foot, the Palm Springs Historical Society offers expertly guided walking tours that blend architecture with rich local history. These tours are ideal for visitors who want to take in details up close while strolling through some of the city's most storied neighborhoods.
When: October – April
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Popular Historical Society Walking Tours:
- Midcentury Modern Icons — A walking overview of the city's signature architectural style, highlighting key buildings and the architects behind them.
- Historic Inns and Neighborhoods — Explore the city's early Spanish Colonial Revival and Mediterranean-style hotels and residences.
- Indian Canyons & Deepwell Estates Walks — Neighborhood-focused tours that reveal how architectural styles evolved from the 1930s through the modernist boom.
- Twin Palms Estates – View stunning modern architecture with its iconic soaring "butterfly" rooflines in the first midcentury neighborhood built by the Alexander Construction Company.
- Giants of Architecture – Stroll through South Palm Canyon Drive and see the most photographed and historically significant concentration of midcentury modern commercial buildings.
Modernism Week
Every February, Palm Springs hosts Modernism Week—a 10-day celebration of midcentury modern architecture, design, art, and culture. The festival draws enthusiasts from across the globe with hundreds of events, including:
- Home and neighborhood tours
- Walking and bus tours
- Films
- Lectures
- Swanky social gatherings and parties
It's a rare chance to step inside some of the city's most iconic private residences and experience the architecture that made Palm Springs a modernist icon.
Modernism Week – October
Held each fall, Modernism Week – October is a more intimate, four-day version of the celebrated festival. Featuring a curated mix of architecture tours, design talks, and special events, it offers visitors a relaxed way to enjoy Palm Springs' modernist gems—without the crowds that typically gather in February. The cooler autumn weather makes it an ideal time for exploring, whether you're joining a guided tour or taking in the desert's distinctive design scene at your own pace.
Together, these two events are cornerstones of Palm Springs' year-round celebration of architecture, complementing the city's many walking, biking, and bus tours that showcase its world-famous Desert Modern style.
How to Choose the Right Palm Springs Architecture Tour
With so many architecture-focused experiences available, the best Palm Springs architecture tour depends on how deep you want to go—and how you like to explore.
If you want a classic introduction to Palm Springs modernism
Choose a guided city architecture tour that covers multiple neighborhoods and landmark buildings. These tours are ideal for first-time visitors who want historical context, major architects, and iconic design elements.
If you want to go inside private midcentury homes
Book a small-group or private tour such as those offered by Palm Springs Mod Squad Tours or The Modern Tour. These experiences often include rare interior access, deeper architectural storytelling, and opportunities for architectural photography.
If you prefer to explore on foot
A walking tour with the Palm Springs Historical Society is perfect for closely examining architectural details, learning how neighborhoods evolved, and connecting architecture with local history.
If you’re a serious architecture or design enthusiast
Plan your visit around Modernism Week or Modernism Week – October, when exclusive homes open to the public and the city becomes a global hub for architectural education and events.
If you’re interested in a single iconic site
Seek out experiences that include Albert Frey House II, one of the most important examples of Desert Modernism and a must-see for architecture lovers.
Choosing the right architecture tour ensures you don’t just see Palm Springs—you understand why it became one of the world’s great modernist design centers.
Other Links:
Midcentury Architecture Self-Guided Tour
Desert Modernism: Where Sleek Design Meets the Desert's Beauty
Palm Springs Architecture Tours FAQ
Why is Palm Springs famous for architecture?
Palm Springs is internationally known for its concentration of midcentury modern and Desert Modern architecture. From the 1940s through the early 1970s, leading architects such as Albert Frey, Richard Neutra, Donald Wexler, William Cody, and E. Stewart Williams used the desert as a laboratory for modern design, creating thousands of homes, hotels, and civic buildings that remain remarkably well preserved.
What types of architecture tours are available in Palm Springs?
Palm Springs offers guided bus tours, small-group van tours, walking tours, private architecture experiences, interior home tours, self-guided routes, and large-scale festival tours during Modernism Week.
Can you go inside midcentury modern homes in Palm Springs?
Yes. Select tours and special events provide access to private midcentury homes, including guided interior tours and Modernism Week home tours. Availability varies by season and property.
What is the best Palm Springs architecture tour for first-time visitors?
First-time visitors often start with a guided city architecture tour that introduces major architects, neighborhoods, and design features before moving on to specialized interior or walking tours.
Is Modernism Week the best time to visit for architecture lovers?
Modernism Week in February and Modernism Week – October are the most immersive times to visit, offering rare home access, lectures, films, and special architecture-focused events.
What is Albert Frey House II and why is it important?
Albert Frey House II is the personal residence of architect Albert Frey and one of the most important examples of Desert Modernism. Built into the mountainside, it demonstrates how modern architecture can integrate with extreme desert environments.