When somebody mentions Palm Springs, California, the subject is usually either Sunshine or Movie Stars (or Sunshine and Movie Stars). And indeed, Palm Springs has plenty of both. But its weather and its famous residents (& visitors) are not the focus of some of the most recent buzz about the popular Southern California resort town.
Rather, it’s the city’s architecture, and specifically its abundant and notable Mid-Century Modern Architecture, that has people talking, and folks taking notice. In fact, the National Trust for Historic Preservation was so impressed with Palm Springs, and its wealth of Mid-Century Modern Architecture, that it decided to recognize the city as one of its “Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2006.”
“Palm Springs contains an astonishing wealth of architectural styles and building types reflective of the City’s 100-year history as a desert resort,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Palm Springs is not a city of architectural re-creations or approximations of previous eras. Instead, it is a remarkably intact and authentic expression of its architectural heritage.”
Palm Springs:
Mid-Century Modern Marvel
Palm Springs was nominated for the Dozen Distinctive Destinations Award by resident Peter Moruzzi, architectural historian and president of Palm Springs MODCOM, a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to maintaining and promoting Palm Springs’ historic modern heritage. Moruzzi is also the producer of a one-hour retrospective of Palm Springs using vintage postcards. MODCOM: On a Mission. The mission of the Palm Springs Modernism Committee (MODCOM) is to promote the recognition of the unique style of architecture of the1950s and 1960s referred to as Mid-Century Modernism. A large number of these buildings, including private homes, resort properties, and commercial buildings remain wonderfully preserved, intact, and in use in Palm Springs, and several that were once owned by celebrities are accessible to visitors, including the famed homes of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. There are even Mid-Century Modern Tours available to architectural enthusiasts and/or those interested in this unique form or architecture. Mid-Century Modern architecture is noted for its clean lines, simple designs, soaring roofs, and integrated indoor-outdoor living spaces. Many of the visionary creators of this architectural style lived and worked in Palm Springs, including Albert Frey, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, William Cody, E. Stewart Williams, Robert Alexander, Donald Wexler, and Hugh Kaptur.
Since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has honored 84 cities in 41 states with the “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” award. This year nearly 93 destinations in 39 states were nominated by individuals, historic preservation organizations, and local communities. The other cities recognized in 2006 include: Arrow Rock, Missouri (A scenic town perched high on a bluff above the Missouri River, Arrow Rock is a charming and vibrant community known for its cache of well-preserved early 19th-century buildings, breath-taking vistas and three centuries of river history.); Bartlesville, Oklahoma (Once a humble Oklahoma prairie town, Bartlesville struck it rich when oil was discovered there, and today the town cherishes both that history and the nation’s only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed skyscraper, which adorns the Bartlesville skyline.); Bowling Green, Kentucky (Nestled along the picturesque Barren River, Bowling Green is a thriving community with a history defined by a wealth of Civil War sites, a treasure trove of early 19th-century architecture and an ancient cavern, once the secret hideaway for soldiers and outlaws.); Lewes, Delaware (The first town in the first state, Lewes, a small hamlet where the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean meet, is proud of its miles of white sand beaches, colorful maritime heritage and diverse collection of historic homes, some dating back to the 1660s.); Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee boasts a world-famous art museum, a well-loved zoo and a host of diverse sites that celebrate its history as the beer-making capital of the United States.); Monterey, California (Made famous in the classic John Steinbeck novel, Cannery Row, coastal Monterey offers not only a stunning setting but an endless supply of visitor delights, including a world-class aquarium, a bustling wharf, historic canneries and centuries of Native American, Spanish-Colonial and Mexican heritage sites.); Philipsburg, Montana (Known for its majestic mountains and wide-open spaces, Philipsburg is a city of extraordinary beauty and history. The community’s proud mining past can be witnessed today in its many historic treasures, including the state’s oldest operating school, jail and opera house.); Prescott, Arizona (Begun as a rustic and raucous mining camp on the Hassayampa River in 1863, Prescott was literally born overnight when gold was discovered in this stark land of granite dells. Today, Prescott is a thriving community that celebrates the Wild West in several nationally recognized museums featuring Native American and Western art and frontier history.); Saranac Lake, New York (A timeless Adirondack village nestled among pristine lakes, evergreen forests and mountains, Saranac Lake came to prominence as a pioneering health resort in the late 19th century. Today, the town is still a refuge for those who come to be cured by its serene setting and impressive collection of period architecture.); Waimea, Kaua’i, Hawaii (In the foothills of the Kohala Mountains on the island of Kaua’i, Waimea is too good to be true. The town’s exquisite setting and vast rugged canyon provide the perfect backdrop for Waimea’s most treasured possession – a diverse collection of architectural and cultural sites that date from the 13th century.); and West Chester, Pennsylvania (A former Quaker village incorporated in 1799, West Chester is a picture-perfect town known for its charming brick sidewalks, large collection of Victorian and Greek Revival architecture, located in the Brandywine Valley.)
