All Places in California

Mid-century/desert modern houses On (or adjacent to) N. Sunnyview Drive. between Simms and E. Molina roads in North Palm Springs sit seven unique, early 1960s homes designed by noted modernist architects Donald Wexler & Richard Harrison and built by the Alexander Construction Co. Their innovative vision; to make affordable desert housing for the masses from prefabricated all-steel and glass components that Read more...

Mid-century/googie buildings Housed in what used to be the Tramway Enco Gas Station, designed by noted modernist architects Albert Frey and Robson C. Chambers in the mid 1960s, the Visitors Center‘s unique hyperbolic paraboloid roof is a not-so-subtle reminder that Palm Springs isn’t just your average desert resort town. Home to arguably the highest concentration of mid-century modern architecture in North Read more...

Mid-century/desert modern houses The Alexander Construction Company (run by father & son team, George & Robert) almost single handedly changed the face of Palm Springs between 1955-1965, building nearly 2,500 post & beam mid-century modern homes and doubling the city’s population in the process. These houses have since been dubbed the “Alexanders,” a majority of which were spearheaded by architect William Krisel Read more...

Mid-century modern buildings Through a nondescript breezeway off N. Palm Canyon Drive, between Destination PSP and a bar & grill, you’ll discover an overlooked outdoor oasis of mixed-use retail, residential, and office space that has seen better days. Currently vacant, this pedestrian friendly outdoor courtyard – which occupies a large area between Palm Canyon & Indian Canyon Drives – is Read more...

Mid-century inspired art One of only two retail boutiques (the other, in West Hollywood) dedicated solely to artist SHAG‘s distinctive modernist, hipster art, this fun immersive gallery offers a large selection of limited edition prints as well as awesome SHAG merchandise including Tikis, towels, handbags, books and much more! Located in the Uptown Design District next to TRIO restaurant. Fun Read more...

Mid-century accommodations The Riviera Hotel opened in 1959 and was an instant hit, quickly attracting Hollywood’s elite and becoming the place to see and be seen during the swinging 1960s. The likes of Elvis Presley, Desi Arnaz and Sonny & Cher all stayed or performed at The Riviera. After several years of decline, however, the iconic hotel was renovated and Read more...

Mid-century accommodations Built in the 1930s and expanded to its current footprint in the early 1950s, The Palm Springs Rendezvous (originally known as the Mira Loma) served as a haven for Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Veronica Lake and Gloria Swanson back in the day. Today, 10 updated modern themed rooms, with a “tip of the hat” to the Read more...

Mid-century accommodations Although mid-century modern, specifically, isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the stylish Parker Palm Springs, the hotel actually began its evolution in 1959 as California’s first Holiday Inn. Purchased two years later by cowboy actor Gene Autry, the Melody Ranch, as he called it, changed hands in the 1990s and was converted to Read more...

Mid-century/desert modern houses Designed by William Krisel (Palmer & Krisel) in the early 1960s for Robert & Helene Alexander of the influential Alexander Construction Co., this luxurious family home was uniquely comprised of 4 floating circular pavilions on three levels under one boomerang shaped roof. State-of-the-art electronics, which would make The Jetson’s proud, were also installed to control indoor/outdoor lighting, temperature and irrigation. Located Read more...

Mid-century accommodations With no signage out front, this property is easy to miss. Which is the point. Unlike its sister hotel, the Orbit In, which boasts a retro “rat pack” vibe, The Hideaway is private, serene and the perfect place to relax if you’re not into the poolside party scene. Located in the heart of the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood, The Read more...

Vintage mid-century fashion For fashions from the 1950s through to the 1980s, this cozy consignment boutique (formerly Deja Vu) features genuine retro clothing from Palm Springs’ heyday representing the desert lifestyle. Women will find everything from casual dresses and footwear to sparkly gowns for that special event, while men will enjoy the swanky resort wear shirts and snazzy sports jackets from the Read more...

Mid-century art Located downtown in the historic La Plaza district, at the corner of Arenas and S. Indian Canyon, this large gallery holds a treasure trove of fine art from the mid-century; an eclectic collection of original paintings, sculptures and more by some of America’s most renowned modernists and impressionists (and international artists) including the likes of Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Joan Read more...

Mid-century accommodations Originally opened in 1955, this fashionable boutique hotel has been restored to its former glory and then some; a private Oasis for young modern scenesters just north of the Uptown Design District. Rooms surround a central pool area with beautiful mountain views and have been updated with modern furnishings & amenities, while complimentary breakfast is served daily. No Read more...

Vintage fashion & decor The thrift store to end all thrift stores, the majority of  Revivals vintage merchandise – which includes retro furniture, housewares and clothing – comes from donations and consignments. They are also, largely, a volunteer-run operation which enables them to contribute the majority of their proceeds towards the Desert AIDs Project, which is a great reason to Read more...

Located at the corner of N Palm Canyon Drive and W Racquet Club Rd., this 11,000 sq. ft. showroom boasts an ever-changing collection of midcentury classics and eclectic ephemera that should satisfy any vintage picker. From the 1950s to the 1980s and everything inbetween, you’ll find well priced, unique items at Re[x], including wall hangings, rugs, pop culture items, Blenko Read more...

Mid-century/desert modern houses The Alexander Construction Company almost single handedly changed the face of Palm Springs between 1955-1965, building nearly 2,500 post & beam mid-century modern homes and doubling the city’s population in the process. These modern homes have since been dubbed the “Alexanders,” a large portion of which were built near the popular Racquet Club and were spearheaded by architect William Read more...

Mid-century/desert modern buildings The desert can be a spiritual place. For modernist architects William F. Cody, E. Stewart Williams, Albert Frey, and others, each borrowed from their surroundings to create unique and inspiring mid-century places of worship, be it from personal inspiration or the materials they used for construction. Corresponding photos are above… just click on addresses below for Google Map Read more...

Mid-Century Furnishings Just East of Palm Springs off Hwy. 111 in Cathedral City is a group of Mid-century Modern vintage stores well worth the short drive. 68-929 Perez Road is home to four different shops, each specializing in different aspects of the Mid-century vernacular, including: Hedge – A combination of unique art pieces and restored higher-end Mid-century furnishings. Spaces – Read more...

Mid-century modern architects Taking a page from Hollywood’s playbook – and its Walk of Fame –  in 1992 the city of Palm Springs began honoring those whose contributions and presence in the area contributed to the charm, worldwide prominence and name recognition of the city. Since then, nearly 400 Golden Palm Stars have been embedded in the sidewalks along Palm Read more...

Mid-century/vintage collectibles The Palm Springs Vintage Market takes place the first Sunday of every month (October thru May) downtown at 356 N Calle Encilia, just north of the Agua Caliente Casino and offers a variety of merchants selling rare vintage and retro items from fashions to furniture and everything in between. A great place where you can enjoy the outdoors, Read more...

Mid-century art museums Located at the base of Mt. San Jacinto in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, architect E. Stewart Williams designed the Palm Springs Art Museum’s current home, which opened in 1974. Architecturally dramatic and a remarkable example of the evolution of desert modernism (or perhaps, desert brutalism), the 150,000 sq. ft. space holds a diverse art collection that’s filled with Read more...

Mid-century/desert modern buildings Hidden in plain site, many of Palm Canyon Drive’s mid-century modern commercial buildings are easy to overlook, but if you can see past the “gingerbread” of their contemporary trappings then you’ll notice some pretty innovative work. By no means are these all the modernist buildings in Palm Springs (there’s a lot!), simply a few of our favorites along Palm Read more...

Mid-century accommodations Located in the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood near the base of Mt. San Jacinto, the Orbit In exudes a retro “rat pack” vibe, even boasting an actual boomerang bar to prove it! Designed by Herbert Burns as “The Village Manor” in 1957, and relaunched as the Orbit In in 2001, this oasis of cool features 9 poolside studio rooms Read more...

Mid-century inspired art Inspired by the Atomic Age  esthetic of The Jetsons, L.A. artist Nat Reed reinterprets mid-century Americana from the 1950s and 60s in loose, rich commercial-type renderings. His small gallery in downtown Palm Springs is like walking into a candy store full of rainbow colored treasures. From Tiki to Googie to Kitsch, Reed’s work is full of fun, cultural and architectural Read more...

Mid-century modern events As far as annual celebrations of all things mid-century modern go, Palm Springs Modernism Week is not to be missed. Held every February over the President’s Day holiday weekend, Modernism Week celebrates a movement defined by clean lines and elegant informality; think House Hunters meets Mad Men! It’s a 10 day plus event where thousands of enthusiasts Read more...

Mid-century modern home design This large commercial & residential design showroom features all the latest in modernist home renovation and decoration materials. From tiles and wallpaper to counter tops and carpeting, Modern Home has everything you’ll need to make your new or vintage property look positively retro, with the added bonus of also offering “real” vintage furniture and accessories, a Read more...