Palm Springs has one of the best collections of midcentury modern architecture in the world. Butterfly roofs, breeze block walls, glass walls and bright front doors are everywhere. Our house is an original MCM home, so we’re a little obsessed.

A self guided drive

• Palm Springs Visitors Center: a former gas station by Albert Frey with a dramatic swooping roof. Start here for maps.
• Twin Palms and Vista Las Palmas: neighborhoods full of classic Alexander homes
• Frey House II: Albert Frey’s hillside home, built right around a boulder
• Racquet Club Estates: rows of affordable midcentury homes with colorful doors
• Kaufmann House: Richard Neutra’s 1946 icon in the Movie Colony, one you’ll recognize from photos

Modernism Week

Twice a year, Modernism Week opens private homes and runs bus tours, parties and talks. The fall edition is in October, and the big festival runs every February. Tours sell out early, so book as soon as tickets go on sale.

Good to know

• Drive from our stays: about 30 minutes
• Be respectful. Most homes are private, so enjoy them from the street.
• Best light: morning or late afternoon for photos

Where to stay: see our Modernism Week rentals page for dates, tips and our homes.

From our blog

• Modernism Week October 2026: Your Guide to the Fall Edition in Palm Springs
• The 10 Best Thrift and Second-Hand Shops in Coachella Valley

Come home to midcentury: our original MCM house has its own saltwater pool.

Photo: Wgreaves, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons