Instructor

Palm Springs Art Museum was founded in 1938 as the Palm Springs Desert Museum, specializing in Native American artifacts, the natural sciences, and the environment of the surrounding Coachella Valley (original site was in La Plaza, pictured at left, circa 1938).The museum moved several times within the downtown Palm Springs area before building its first permanent structure in 1958, located on the southwest corner of Tahquitz-McCallum Way and Indian Ave. To add to the appeal of the museum, galleries located upstairs in the new building were designed to exhibit fine art. In 1963, the museum held its first concert. These new ideas were the seedlings of the Palm Springs Art Museum we know today.&nbsp;The 1960s were a busy time for the museum. Executive Director Frederick Sleight arrived on the scene in 1965 with a vision of making the museum "the prime cultural center of the desert." Alice Sleight founded the docent program that same year. As programming grew, so did attendance. By the late 60's it was evident the 10,000 square foot building was quickly becoming too small (designed by E. Stewart Williams, the structure is pictured at right).In 1974, architect E. Stewart Williams was commissioned to design the current building for the museum. Further growth resulted in the construction of the Doris and Walter N. Marks Administration Building and the 1996 completion of the Steve Chase Wing and the Education Center.

The museum offers 28 galleries, two sculpture gardens, a theater and a lecture hall, and a gift shop and café. 

More Info

Video

Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, the Palm Springs Art Museum features an extensive collection in its 28 galleries. The museum has an art collection that rivals urban metropolitan museums, and includes works from Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Donald Judd, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Robert Rauschenberg, Antony Gormley and Ansel Adams. Spread over the 150,000 square feet, the museum boasts major collections of modern and contemporary art, glass, photography, architecture and design and Native American and Western art. The museum also offers a café and gift shop. 

Palm Springs Art Museum 

Starting at Moorten Botanical Garden and the historic Ingleside Inn, this drive through the heart of Palm Springs includes the McCallum Adobe and Palm Springs Historical Society Museum, the Palm Springs Art Museum, the former home of Frank Sinatra, and several other landmarks and museums.  

The Spanish-Colonial Ingleside Inn in Palm Springs dates back to 1925, when the Humphrey Birge family commissioned architect George Washington Smith to build a stately private residence. Humphrey Birge earned his fortune serving as president of the car company Pierce-Arrow and then selling his stock. After his death, his widow chose this two-acre property in Palm Springs to build on and took many trips to Europe to furnish it.When Mrs. Birge died in 1935, the family sold the 20 room residence to Ruth Hardy, who had experience in the hotel industry and began to operate the place as her own. Hardy diligently chose big-names to stay and attend dinners at the Inn, people like Salvador Dali, Clark Gable, John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn, and Howard Hughes. Being very meticulous, Hardy kept note-cards on each guest with comments about what they said they liked, what they disliked, and, ultimately, if they should be invited back. After 30 years of operating the Inn, Hardy passed away and the property was sold to a wealthy businessman from San Francisco who sadly allowed it to fall into disrepair.In 1975, New York native Melvyn Haber came across the Inn when he was causally strolling down the streets of Palm Springs. Although he had no experience in the hotel industry, he was instantly charmed by the Ingleside Inn and decided to purchase it. After an extensive renovation, Haber reopened the Inn to guests and created his own restaurant on the property, Melvyn's Restaurant. Melvyn's became a hot-spot for some of Hollywood's biggest names. Frank Sinatra enjoyed the atmosphere so much he decided to hold his and his last wife Barbara's wedding rehearsal dinner at Melvyn's in 1976. Haber ran and operated the Ingleside Inn until his death in 2016. Thanks to the vision and hard work of Melvyn Haber, the Ingleside Inn remains a reminder of its glamorous past.

The historic Ingleside Inn is nestled in at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains and is walking distance to downtown Palm Springs. Built in 1925, the Inn has been attracting movie stars and other elite who would vacation in the desert to escape the hustle and bustle of Hollywood for decades. Also on the property is the famous Melyvn's Restaurant, run and operated by the owner of the Ingleside Inn for more than forty years, Melvyn Haber. Melvyn's has hosted famous people such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Gerald Ford, Liza Minnelli, and many others. The Ingleside Inn remains a reflection of the era that is called the Golden Age of Hollywood. 

Ingleside Inn 

A 24 minute film on the history of Palm Springs runs continuously.

The McCallum Adobe is the oldest building in Palm Springs and is currently home to a small museum that is operated by the Palm Springs Historical Society Museum. This adobe home was built in 1884 for John McCallum, the first permanent settler of European origin. The home was preserved and relocated to this location and now holds an extensive collection of photographs, artifacts, paintings, and clothing that date back to the 19th century to the heyday of Palm Springs growth. Of special interest to researchers is the society's extensive library. Knowledgeable and personable curators are always on hand to answer questions and assist those using the library.

McCallum Adobe and Palm Springs Historical Society Museum

The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn was not built as an inn, instead, it was a private residence for William and Nella Mead. Mead was a real estate developer, banker, and sat on the board of Water Commissioners in Los Angeles. To design their desert home, the Meads chose architect William J. Dodd to construct an elegant estate such as the one he designed for producer Cecil B. DeMille in Bel-Air. The magnificent Mediterranean style home that they came to call The Willows was completed in 1925 and featured prime views of the illustrious Coachella Valley.William and Nella Mead were good friends with another multi-millionaire in Los Angeles, Roland Bishop, and he too decided to build in the desert. Roland Bishop, who owned a 30,000 square foot home in Holmby Hills, made his fortune in the cracker and candy business. Mead, who also had a mansion in the Silver Lake area, joined with Bishop in selling their elaborate homes to live more simply in bungalows at the Beverly Hills Hotel, then would vacation in the Coachella Valley. William Dodd was chosen to design Roland Bishop's home on the adjoining property of The Willows, opting to give each their own unique physical appearance.Unfortunately, William Mead's time at The Willows was brief, he died in November 1927 after a brief bout with pneumonia. Two years later, Nella sold The Willows to a New York attorney named Samuel Untermyer. Untermyer was an enthusiastic host at The Willows, opening his doors to a variety of guests such as Jimmy Walker (mayor of New York City), child star Shirley Temple, Governor Herbert Lehman of New York, and even Albert Einstein. Einstein and his wife Elsa enjoyed the tranquility of the property and would spend hours sunbathing by the pool. The bench where Einstein would sit and gaze at the landscape of the tranquil Coachella Valley is still in place on the hill right above The Willows. Untermyer passed away in 1940 and The Willows was maintained by his family until the mid-1950s when Marion Davies, actress and former love of William Randolph Hearst, purchased The Willows and the next-door Desert Inn. Davies brought her own entourage of celebrities to The Willows such as fellow silent screen star Mary Pickford and her husband actor Buddy Rogers.Davies sold the property in 1964 and all of the priceless contents in The Willows were auctioned off, marking the decline of the historic site and property. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Tracy Conrad and her husband Dr. Paul Manrut purchased The Willows, restored it to its original splendor, and established The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn. In 2019, The Willows doubled in size when they acquired the next-door Bishop House.

The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn has a rich, illustrious history and is nestled in its own world in the Coachella Valley. The Willows was originally built as a private residence for a prominent Los Angeles businessman, but it eventually became a gathering place for some of Hollywood's most famous names and other prominent figures. People such as Clark Gable, Shirley Temple, and Albert and Elsa Einstein flocked to this hidden paradise to escape the busyness of the city and enjoy the lush terrain that surrounds the property. The Willows has been designated by the Palm Springs Historic Preservation Board as a Class 1 historic site and is one of the oldest still standing in Palm Springs. 

The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn 

Frank Sinatra first stepped foot in the town that he would eventually put on the map in 1947. The most popular singer in the world and a star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the married father of two went to Palm Springs looking to build a get-away home for his family. In the summer of that year, Sinatra met with architect E. Stewart Williams in his office and spoke of wanting to build a Georgian style home. Williams was enticed by Sinatra's statement that money was no object, however the thought of designing a Georgian mansion in the desert city of Palm Springs personally repelled him. When Sinatra returned to look at Williams' plans, he was presented with two different designs: one the Georgian home he requested, and the other a modern design with a pool the shape of a grand piano. Williams won, Sinatra settled on the latter. Work on the 4,500 square foot house began immediately because Sinatra voiced that he wanted to host a lavish Christmas party in the home, which was just six months away. Williams and his construction team rushed against the clock to fulfill Sinatra's wishes, and the $150,000 home was completed in time for Christmas. The modern home came to be called "Twin Palms" and it epitomized Hollywood living. With horizontal and clean lines, a modernist trait, the four bedroom house was completely air conditioned, something almost unheard of in the 1940s. Frank and his wife Nancy's master suite was separate from the main wing, and their three children each had their own room. For a few years, the family resided in the home and hosted some of Hollywood's elite, such as pals Humphrey Bogart, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin. But none were more important to Frank than Ava Gardner. Days after his divorce from Nancy in 1951, Frank married the beguiling star at a friend's home in Palm Springs and Ava settled into Twin Palms with Frank. It was during their marriage that some of Twin Palm's most lavish parties were held, with Sinatra hoisting a Jack Daniels flag when cocktail hour arrived. The Sinatra's honeymoon was short-lived, as both were passionate and ill-tempered. Twin Palms served as witness to the couples' tempestuous fights, including a time when Frank threw a champagne bottle at Ava in the master bathroom, leaving a crack in the sink that remains today. On another occasion it was said he became so angry at her accusing him of having an affair with Lana Turner, one of her closest friends, he gathered all of her belongings and placed them in the driveway. Sinatra's fame began to crumble at the same time his marriage did, his records were no longer selling and his contract with MGM had been thrown-out. All of that changed when Sinatra got the role of "Maggio" in From Here To Eternity (1953), which earned him an Oscar. Frank Sinatra was once again at the top of the heap. He retreated to Twin Palms to strengthen his voice and, as a result,  his best-selling albums emerged. His marriage to Ava Gardner was unable to be saved, unlike his career, and the couple divorced in 1957. That same year he sold Twin Palms. Today, Twin Palms is furnished in period-style furniture, and Sinatra continues to loom large in the home he built and where his Valentino recording equipment still resides. The desert remained Sinatra's true love, he and his fourth wife and widow, Barbara, resided in Rancho Mirage until they sold the home known as "the Compound" in 1995. Both are buried in nearby Cathedral City with Sinatra's parents and some of his closest friends. Twin Palms remains available to rent for a couple thousand a night and is a must-see on local historic tours. The estate remains a symbol of simpler times, when Hollywood and Frank Sinatra were swinging.

The year was 1947 and Frank Sinatra was not only one of the most famous crooner's in the world but also a hot ticket at movie theaters. Wanting a vacation home away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, Sinatra fell for the dry air and beautiful mountain scenery that Palm Springs offered. He commissioned famed mid-century modern architect E. Stewart Williams to design the modern home that would bear the name Twin Palms, because of the two trademark palm trees on the property. A part of the famed "Movie Colony" in Palm Springs, Twin Palms hosted some of the desert's wildest parties thrown by "the Chairman of the Board." The home was also witness to some of Sinatra and his second wife Ava Gardner's most vehement arguments. The couple resided in the home together for three years, then Sinatra sold the home in 1957, the same year he and Gardner divorced. Over the years, owners have rented out the home for weddings, parties, and to tourists curious as to what it was like to live like Sinatra did. In 2011 the city of Palm Springs listed the estate as a Class 1 historic site and five years later Twin Palms was added to the National Register of Historic Places. For Sinatra fans and mid-century modern enthusiasts, the party never ends at Twin Palms. 

Twin Palms - The Frank Sinatra Estate

Architect Richard Neutra (1892-1970) immigrated from Vienna to the United States in the early 1920s. Interested in architectural design, Neutra worked with Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolf Schindler until breaking out on his own in 1930. The Kaufmann House was built in 1946-47 for Edgar J. Kaufmann, Sr., who ran Kaufmann's Department Store. Kaufmann and his wife were searching for a spot on the West Coast to escape the winters in the Northeast and decided on a property in Palm Springs at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains. The Kaufmann's had commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design their Pennsylvania home, another iconic piece of architecture, called Fallingwater. For his desert home, Kaufmann opted for a more modernistic approach using materials such as glass, steel, and stone and decided that Neutra was the master of the mid-century modern style.What was supposed to be a simple, rather inexpensive house estimated at $30,000 ended up costing a staggering $300,000 and covering 3,800 square feet. The design of the house could be described as looking like a pinwheel, at the center of the house is the living room and the rest of the rooms branch out. The south wing of the house consists of a walkway that leads out to the carport, while the north wing is the guest house. The east and the west wing possess the service wing and the master suite. The central point of the house has always remained the pool. Famed photographer Slim Aarons captured what would become an iconic image called "Poolside Gossip" in 1970, featuring Nelda Linsk, who was the then owner of the home, and Helen Kaptur, the wife of a local architect.Over the decades, the Kaufmann House had a number of owners and eventually the house fell into disrepair. That was until a couple who appreciated mid-century modern architecture and Neutra's work purchased the home and restored it to its original glory thanks to historic photos taken by Julius Shulman. The Kaufmann House remains a prime tourist stop in Palm Springs, and its historic past and architecture has been recognized as a Class 1 Site by the city.

Famed architect Richard Neutra designed this mid-century modern jewel in the late 1940s, marking the beginning of its illustrious history. The Kaufmann House epitomizes the sleek style and design that defined the mid-century modern era that hit its peak in Southern California in the 1950s and 60s. Neutra designed the home for department store magnate Edgar J. Kaufmann, Sr., who came to Palm Springs to escape the brutal winters of the Northeast. Over the years the Kaufmann House has had numerous owners, fell into disrepair, then found new life after an extensive renovation. It also gained notoriety after New York photographer Slim  Aarons snapped one of his more famous photos here in 1970, "Poolside Gossip." Due to its being privately owned, the simplistic yet stunning home can only be seen from the outside, behind a guarded gate. There is a bronze marker denoting the residence is recognized as a local landmark. When in Palm Springs, the Kaufmann House is a must-see. 

Kaufmann House 

The legend of the Racquet Club began when actors Charlie Farrell and Ralph Bellamy purchased two hundred acres of land in Palm Springs at just 30 cents an acre. Their goal was to build the two largest and best tennis courts for their Hollywood friends to retreat to in the Desert. The tennis courts were officially dedicated on December 25, 1934 and Farrell and Bellamy decided to charge avid tennis players only $1 to use the facilities. Though on that first day they made under $20, steadily more stars such as Ginger Rogers, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, and Spencer Tracy became frequent guests at the Racquet Club.Eventually, Bellamy and Farrell invested in a whole club, adding a swimming pool, a bar, and bungalows. When the Club was first established, membership cost $50; over the years that price rose to $150. Eventually Farrell bought-out Bellamy's interests and became the sole owner. The Racquet Club continued to serve as a place for fun and relaxation. Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Jack Benny, Marilyn Monroe, Zsa Zsa and Eva Gabor, Frank Sinatra, and many more could be found lounging by the pool, drinking in the famous "Bamboo Room," playing tennis, or simply socializing. The Racquet Club was a Hollywood haven. However, it was not solely for Hollywood elite. In the 1960s, Robert and Ethel Kennedy would frequently visit the Club for a few rounds of tennis. Also, Henry Kissinger came for lunch, Ronald and Nancy Reagan were even allowed to cook in the kitchen, and famed author Truman Capote was once a guest at the Club's popular New Year's Eve party.In 1959, Farrell, who had at one time served as the mayor of Palm Springs, sold the Racquet Club to a businessman from Pasadena named Robert Morton. Numerous owners would follow over the years, but there was one constant person always in the foreground: Charles Farrell. He continued to serve as the managing director and the main PR agent for the Racquet Club, ensuring celebrity attraction. The Racquet Club's painful demise began in 1986 when owner Larry Lawrence decided to rid the Club of its "Member Only" policy and make it open to the public. By the time Charles Farrell passed away in 1990, his beloved Racquet Club was vacant.In the 21st century, the Racquet Club has fallen under even harder times and the future of the historic site remains uncertain. After being reopened with new hands at the helm in 1999, the Racquet Club failed to take-off and closed after just 4 years. In July 2014, a fire broke-out and destroyed many buildings located on the legendary site. As of 2017, the Palm Springs Historic Preservation Board voted to make the now 10 acres of Racquet Club a Class 1 historic site, which would prevent further demolition. Opponents argued that designating it a Class 1 historic site would also disqualify existing buildings and bungalows from undergoing modification without approval from the city council, and would curtail future development. Whatever the future of the Racquet Club, its glory days are long gone, along with the multitudes of stars that graced the premises; all that remains are the legendary tales and memories.

If you were looking for a place in the 1940s and 50s to escape to that was filled with sunshine and ideal weather, swimming pools, sports, and movie stars: the Racquet Club in Palm Springs was the place to be. First opened in 1934 by Hollywood actors Ralph Bellamy and Charles Farrell, for the next 30 years the Racquet Club would serve as an oasis for movie stars. Originally built with just two tennis courts, the Club grew to hold one of the most popular swimming pools in Palm Springs and the local legendary bar called the "Bamboo Room." Stars such as Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Dinah Shore, and Marilyn Monroe could often be spotted by the pool or enjoying a round of tennis. Beginning in the 1970s after the glory days of Hollywood had come to an end, the Racquet Club suffered a decline, which was only worsened by a a fire in 2014. Now desolate, the future of the Racquet Club remains uncertain. All that remains are dilapidated buildings reflecting the ethereal glamour that once existed but is now lost.

The Racquet Club of Palm Springs

The Palm Springs Air Museum has one of the largest collections of fully-restored military aircraft in the world. The museum has been rated by CNN as one of the best aviation museums in the world. Staff and volunteers at this museum restore and display military aircraft from World War II to the Vietnam War era. Many of the museum's aircraft have been restored to flying condition. The museum offers guided tours of their collection, as well as permanent and temporary exhibits and educational programs. 

Highlights of Palm Springs Driving Tour

Palm Springs Art Museum

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information