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Mid-century modern churches Modernist churches abound in Las Vegas but they don’t all adhere to the typical A-frame design of the period, especially when it comes to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). The following three Mormon chapels and two others are highlighted because of their unique, non A-Frame, mid-century qualities… click on addresses below for Google Read more...
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Mid-century churches A good chunk of Honolulu’s modern infrastructure was built during the 1950s and 60s resulting in more modernist churches per capita than most American cities. These places of worship vary greatly in design but have one thing in common; they’re all mid-century amazing! We’ve listed a bunch here (in no particular order) and elsewhere on the See Honolulu Read more...
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Mid-century modern buildings Representing the only Statewide system of libraries in the United States, the Hawaii State Public Library System has twenty-three branches on Oahu and fifty locations in total, with a handful of their modernist buildings still in use. We’ve listed a few of them and will continue to add more when we can …click on addresses below for Read more...
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Mid-century modern buildings This simple two-story circular building acted as developer Irwin Molasky’s unique base of operations from where he oversaw the 1960s development and construction of his master-planned community, Paradise Palms, adjacent to the Las Vegas National Golf Course. The round, smoked glass structure – now used for medical offices – is hard to miss when driving along S. Read more...
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Mid-century churches A good chunk of Honolulu’s modern infrastructure was built during the 1950s and 60s resulting in more modernist churches per capita than most American cities. These places of worship vary greatly in design but have one thing in common; they’re all mid-century amazing! We’ve listed a bunch here (in no particular order) and elsewhere on the See Honolulu page. Read more...
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Mid-century modern buildings/signs In the post-war years, as more families started traveling the United States by automobile, Las Vegas proved to be a requisite stop along their way. Clusters of motor courts and motels (motor + hotel) popped up along east Fremont Street and to the north and south on Las Vegas Blvd. to meet the need for inexpensive lodgings. Read more...
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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...
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Mid-century popular culture Nuclear testing near Las Vegas drew thousands of curiosity seekers to the city in the 1950s and early 60s. The Atomic Age was big business and Las Vegas cashed in with Atomic themed drinks, beauty pageants and flashy marquee signs. Who knew the Atomic bomb could be so much fun? The National Atomic Testing Museum takes a different Read more...
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Mid-century modern buildings Part Theater, part Convention Center, part Arena; the Neal S. Blaisdell Center (named for the city’s former mayor, 1955-1969) spans an entire city block and was designed by the architectural firm of Merril, Simms & Roehrig, as well as Adrian Wilson & Associates who designed its Arena. Upon opening in 1964, the Honolulu International Center – as Read more...
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Mid-century vintage signs If you’ve ever wanted to get up-close and personal with vintage Vegas neon signery, this is the place to do it. Although there are several restored neon signs on display throughout the downtown Fremont Street area and along North Las Vegas Boulevard as part of the Las Vegas Signs Project and National Scenic Byway, the “Boneyard” is Read more...
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Mid-century modern buildings Located at the busy intersection of South Beretania and Pikoi Streets is the unique Occidental Life Insurance Building designed by Lemmon, Freeth & Haines, circa 1951. It’s a beautifully constructed early 1950s low-rise office building made from natural stone, concrete, aluminum and angled glass. Not surprisingly, though, the real attraction is the 1967 addition of a cantilevered Read more...
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Vintage restaurants Nothings says vintage Las Vegas like dark wood paneling and shiny brass fixtures, especially if your idea of vintage Vegas is a rat pack-style retro steak house. Fortunately, there are a handful of such places that still exist, the oldest dating back to the 1950s. Listed from ‘less vintage’ to ‘most vintage.’ Click on addresses below for Google Read more...
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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...
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Mid-century/desert modern houses For a city that’s fond of bulldozing its past, Las Vegas has a surprising number of neighborhoods that have been designated “historic,” and although that doesn’t mean they’re all of the mid-century modern variety – like Paradise Palms – there’s probably enough here to satisfy those with a craving for residential modernism. Listed from west to east… click Read more...
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Mid-century buildings/Vintage Eats Since 1964 the Pagoda Floating Restaurant has been a fixture in the old Pawa’a neighborhood of central Honolulu; a kitschy, mid-century, circular building surrounded by a man-made tropical pond filled with Japanese koi fish and a waterfall. It’s classic Hawaiiana. The Pagoda exudes that authentic, artificial island-style tropical oasis feel – which includes an adjoining hotel with Read more...
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Mid-century buildings The Pali Highway, also known as Hawaii Route 61, connects communities like Kailua and Kaneohe from the windward side of Oahu to downtown Honolulu. It’s a quick 20-30 minute drive through the Nu’uanu Pali tunnels (built in the 1950s) in either direction. On the way you’ll see a handful of pretty nice modernist buildings in the lush Nuuanu Read more...
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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...
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Mid-century modern buildings The Palm Mortuary & Cemetery dates back to the 1920s and has seven locations in southern Nevada. The two rectilinear mausoleums at their downtown Las Vegas location were built in the late 1950s and are gorgeous examples of midcentury modern construction with patterned breeze block screen walls and clean lines. As you enter the grounds, the “Building of Eternity” Read more...
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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...
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Mid-century modern tours For a quick, comprehensive and fun tour of desert modernism at its best, Palm Springs Mod Squad Architecture & Design Tours is perfect for those with limited time … and at a brisk 90 minutes, their Essentials Tour is a great primer on the Palm Springs modernist movement with an emphasis on its architects, Hollywood lineage, and more. Local Read more...
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Mid-century/desert modern buildings Originally built in an Italian monastery style, the 1947 modernist additions to the Palm Springs Tennis Club have been cited by critics as a “successful example of contemporary architectural concepts at their best.” By combining innovative modern designs with natural materials, architects A. Quincy Jones and Paul R. Williams completely transformed the traditional club into a “California Read more...
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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...
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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...
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Mid-century/desert modern houses Southern California architects Dan Palmer & William Krisel, who’d successfully built hundreds of mid-century modern post & beam tract homes in Palm Springs during the 1950s & 60s, were tasked by local developer Irwin Molasky to design a majority of Clark County’s first planned community, Paradise Palms, and they knocked it out of the park. This progressive 1960s subdivision Read more...
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Mid-century furniture & apparel Kate Aldrich and Tim Shaffer have been winning over locals since opening their high end vintage decor & apparel shop in 2012. Mid-century modern furniture from Knoll to Nelson share a lot of square footage with ceramics, lighting, glassware, artwork, apparel and even vintage eye wear – hipsters will have a blast trying on retro frames! Read more...
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Retro inspired home furnishings This big, bright showroom in the Palm Springs Uptown Design District is filled with mid-century modern inspired indoor and outdoor furniture, rugs, wall art, bedding, lighting, jewelry, architecture books and retro home decor & accessories. Popular items include various lines from Blu Dot, located on the corner of W. El Alameda & N. Palm Canyon Drive. Read more...
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Mid-century vintage diners/bars Las Vegas’ original 24-hour coffee shop and ultra lounge has been serving up huge portions and stiff drinks for over 40 years. An offshoot of Reno’s Peppermill & Lounge when it opened across the street from the formerly iconic Stardust Hotel & Casino (rest in peace) in 1972, this place was an instant hit with Strip performers and Read more...
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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...
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Housing the world’s largest collection of vintage pinball machines under one 10,000 sq. ft. roof, the Pinball Hall of Fame is really a pop culture museum of sorts showcasing hundreds of machines dating back to the 1950s… and they all work! From classic penny drop machines like “Skill Roll” to the 1960s Apollo space program-inspired “Lunar Shot,” this arcade/museum delivers Read more...
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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...
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Mid-century modern buildings Currently known as the Kaheka Professional Center, this modernist mid rise office building at the corner of S. King and Kaheka streets was designed by architect Ernie Hara in 1956 and was Honolulu’s very first curtain wall structure. Hara breaks up the glass and aluminum facade, though – typical of the International Style – by incorporating sleek, horizontal Read more...
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Midcentury and Modern Decor This playful downtown showroom features a mix of Midcentury and Modern furnishings, lighting, home accessories and more. They even offer an extensive collection of unique wallpaper and showcase work by local artists. Located downtown near the corner of West Tahquitz Canyon Way and North Indian Canyon Drive. See more on their facebook page or Instagram. Read more...
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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...
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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...
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Mid-century modern buildings DEMOLISHED IN 2022 Originally a Mormon Church & Recreational facility before it was taken over by the city of Las Vegas in the late 1960s when it stood temporarily as City Hall, then as the Reed Whipple Cultural Arts Center in the early 70s, this handsome 60s building boasts a large sweeping facade with beautiful block detailing Read more...
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Vintage mid-century furniture Arguably, downtown’s first business dedicated to mid-century modern vintage, this large store has it all; history, style and a 1950s pink kitchen display to die for. From mid-century ceramics and clocks to modern art and vintage finds that would make your grandmother proud, they stock historically significant pieces and also offer short term rentals. As if that Read more...
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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...
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Mid-century ephemera You know them, you love them; Rick Dale and his team of “loose screws” from the History Channel’s Rick’s Restorations. If you’ve got a rusty old Coke dispenser they’ll restore it. A broken down gas pump? They’ll restore that too. Or you can purchase a really sweet custom restoration from their boneyard! As a result of their History Channel popularity Read more...
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Retro diner & memorabilia Including a restaurant on our vintage shopping page may not be an obvious choice, but this popular 1950s-style diner in the middle of busy Waikiki also stocks and sells a lot of mid-century memorabilia. Jukebox music along with classic burgers, fries & shakes share space with vintage popular culture collectibles including rare and highly coveted original Marilyn Read more...
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Retro mid-century apparel If retro, rockabilly and pin-up is your thing, then Rockin’ Bettie is the store for you. A cute little fashion boutique specializing in brand new retro styles by designers with names like Daddy O’s and Peanuts, Rockin’ Bettie also carries unique retro-style shoes, accessories and homewares. They even have a studio in the back where dames and Read more...
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Mid-century modern buildings Designed by Charles Luckman & Associates, the Sears building at the north end of the Boulevard Mall is the last vestige of the original late 1960s single-storey shopping center developed by Las Vegas businessmen Merv Adelson and Irwin Molasky (Paradise Palms). Its classic folded roofline and graceful linear awning look like they were dropped at the corner of E. Read more...
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Retro Roadside Attractions If you’re looking for a unique retro roadside attraction within driving distance of Palm Springs (35 minutes East on Hwy 111), consider Shields Date Garden. Founded in 1924 by Floyd & Bess Shields, the couple made a name for their Indio-based date farm by giving lectures to locals & tourists on date cultivation. The lectures became so Read more...
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Mid-century modern buildings The International [Island] Style is on display at the Shinshu Kyokai Mission Dormitory on S. Beretania Street in Honolulu’s old Pawa’a neighborhood. Completed in 1961, this Robert Katsuyoshi designed residential building – which houses students from all over the world – is comprised of an L-shaped rectilinear low rise with wood slat louvered window openings and an Read more...
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Streamline moderne houses Resembling an ocean liner beached on the desert mountainside, the “ship of the desert” was designed by Erle Webster and Adrian Wilson in 1936 as a winter retreat for the Davidson family, a department store dynasty from the Eastern U.S. Its namesake was launched on the cover of Sunset Magazine in 1937 and the home’s Streamline Moderne design Read more...
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Vintage mid-century collectibles With over 10,000 sq. ft. and a variety of 40 vendors selling their wares, Sin City Pickers is worth a look. They’ve got custom-made steampunk items, vintage toys, retro fashions, mid-century (and earlier) furniture, Tiki collectibles and a dedicated floor for original art by local Vegas artists. Bryan Goodman and Jason T. Smith, from Spike TV’s “The Thrift Hunters” Read more...