Local historian and author Tracy Conrad will explore the fascinating histories of the Thomas O’Donnell House and the Desert Inn. Designed by William Charles Tanner in 1925, the O’Donnell House was the first Palm Springs building to be constructed above the valley floor on the lower slopes of Mt. San Jacinto. Known as Ojo Del Desierto (“Eye of the Desert”) the house is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Desert Inn (sadly demolished in 1966) was the vision of Palm Springs pioneer Nellie Coffman, who established it as a rudimentary sanitarium in 1909. Expanded on by Tanner in 1924, the Desert Inn flourished as a stylish Spanish Mediterranean hotel drawing prominent elected officials, countless celebrities, and captains of industry–effectively launching Palm Springs as the tourism destination it is today.

Conrad’s enormously popular weekly Desert Sun column “Thanks for the Memories” covers a wide range of historical topics. She is the author of several books on local history and is on the board of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation.

The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to educate and promote public awareness of the importance of preserving the historical resources and architecture of the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area.” PSPF offers free membership as a public benefit. To learn more about the work of the foundation see www.pspreservationfoundation.org.