modernism week architecture

Star Map

Modernism Week offers a tour of local landmarks atop its double-decker bus, but if you prefer to go it alone, be sure to check these iconic buildings off your list.

Lisa Marie Hart Modernism

modernism week architecture
The Palm Springs Visitor's Center in its earlier life was a gas station designed by Albert Frey.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PALM SPRINGS LIFE ARCHIVES

Modernism Week offers quite an array of tours during its 11-day run in February (16-26) to many of the architectural gems in Greater Palm Springs.

But if you want to be in the driver’s seat of your own tours, we have compiled a list of buildings that are must-sees.

1. Tramway Gas Station

(now Palm Springs Visitors Center)
1965 by Albert Frey and Robson C. Chambers
2901 N. Palm Canyon Drive

PHOTO BY BRENT R. HARRIS

2. Kaufmann House

(site of photographer Slim Aarons’ world famousPoolside Gossip photograph)
1964 by Richard Neutra
470 W. Vista Chino Road

PHOTO COURTESY OF PALM SPRINGS LIFE ARCHIVES

3. Coachella Valley Savings and Loan

(now Chase Bank)
1960 by E. Stewart Williams
499 S. Palm Canyon Drive

PHOTO BY DAVID A. LEE

4. Alexander Steel Homes

Racquet Club Road Estates
1961 by Donald Wexler
Enter at Simms Road

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF THE SHOPS AT THIRTEEN FORTY FIVE

5. Howard Hicks Real Estate

(now The Shops at Thirteen Forty-Five)
1955 by E. Stewart Williams
1345 N. Palm Canyon Drive

PHOTO BY JAY JORGENSEN

6. House of Tomorrow

(commonly known as Elvis Presley’s 
Honeymoon Hideaway)
1962 by William Krisel
1350 Via Ladera Circle

 
 
 
 
 
 

7. Del Marcos Hotel

1947 by William F. Cody
225 W. Baristo Road

PHOTO BY DAVID A. LEE

PHOTO COURTESY OF PALM SPRINGS LIFE ARCHIVES

8. Palm Springs City Hall

1957 by Albert Frey, John Porter Clark, 
and Robson C. Chambers
3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way

PHOTO BY JULIUS SHULMAN & JUERGEN NOGAI/© JUERGEN NOGAI

9. Dinah Shore Estate

(owned by Leonardo DiCaprio)
1964 by Donald Wexler
432 W. Hermosa Place

PHOTO BY JAKE HOLT

10. Tropics Hotel

(now Caliente Tropics)
1964 by developer Ken Kimes
411 E. Palm Canyon Drive

PHOTO BY DAVID A. LEE

11. L’Horizon Palm Springs

1952 by William F. Cody
1050 E. Palm Canyon Drive

PHOTO BY TOM O’CONNELL

12. Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate

1957–1959 by William Krisel
Between Camino Real, La Jolla, and Twin Palms roads

PHOTO COURTESY OF PALM SPRINGS LIFE ARCHIVES

13. Santa Fe Federal 
Savings and Loan

(Now Architecture and Design Center)
1961 by E. Stewart Williams
300 S. Palm Canyon Drive

PHOTO BY JAKE HOLT

14. Edris House

1954 by E. Stewart Williams
1030 W. Cielo Drive