The Palm Springs School: A Symposium

Palm Springs Art Museum in partnership with Palm Springs Architectural Alliance presents a symposium in honor of the Palm Springs School of Desert Modernism. The Symposium will firmly establish the Palm Springs School as a unique and special movement among other significant architectural movements like the Prairie School and Sarasota School.

Author and historian Alan Hess will provide the keynote presentation. Following are talks by George Thomas, cultural and architectural historian, on the history of resort architecture in America; Sian Winship, architectural historian, and writer, exploring the role of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in the growth of Palm Springs at midcentury; and Ken Lyon, architect and Principal City Planner of Palm Springs, about the importance of preservation in establishing Palm Springs as a mecca of midcentury Modernism.

These four experts, and others, are featured in a new book, The Palm Springs School–Desert Modernism: 1934–1975 (Rizzoli Publishing 2025), written by Alan Hess and spearheaded by the Palm Springs Architectural Alliance. A book signing follows the presentation.

Limited to 200 tickets on a first-purchased basis, following the symposium will be a self-driving tour of the exteriors and interiors of five of the most significant homes of the Palm Springs School of Desert Modernism, all of which are featured in the book: The Edris House(1954) E. Stewart Williams; The Cody Family Home (1952) William Cody; The Moore/Steel House (1962) Donald Wexler; The Grace Miller House (1937) Richard Neutra; and The Menrad/Twin Palms House (1956) William Krisel. Tour instructions and a tour map will be provided at the symposium for participants having purchased ‘Symposium PLUS Tour’ tickets.

Select the 9:30 am-1:30 pm slot for the symposium only

Select the 9:30 am -4:30 pm slot for the symposium + self-guided tour.

Palm Springs Art Museum Members receive a special discount.