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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.
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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.
