Long before Midcentury Modernism took root, a remarkable group of early Palm Springs pioneers—especially visionary women—laid the foundation for the vibrant city we know today. Join One-PS for this expertly guided walking tour through downtown Palm Springs, where you’ll explore iconic sites that shaped the city’s early history, architecture, and culture.

Stops include the Welwood Murray Memorial Library (1940, John Porter Clark), honoring one of the city’s founding figures; La Plaza Shopping Center (1936, Harry J. Williams), a trailblazing development funded by NCR heiress Julia Carnell; and the Plaza Theatre (1936, Williams), now undergoing restoration, where historian Jim Cook will share stories from its star-studded past.

You’ll also visit the Spanish Colonial Revival main clubhouse and casita of the O’Donnell Golf Club (1936, William Charles Tanner), built by philanthropist Tom O’Donnell and his wife, pioneering osteopath Dr. Winifred Willis Jenney O’Donnell. The tour continues to American Legion Post 519 (1948, Albert Frey & John Porter Clark), a rare Frey-designed venue with a storied Hollywood past, and Temple Isaiah (1947/1987), where Modernist and Brutalist styles converge in a dramatic sanctuary, the Welwood Murray Cemetery, final resting place of key historical figures, and special exhibits at the library and temple.

Highlights include onsite talks by local historians and building stewards with rare interior access at 5 locations, and potential Bighorn sheep sightings at the O’Donnell course.

This immersive tour reveals how Palm Springs’ Modern identity grew from bold ideas, generous benefactors, and a legacy of civic and cultural vision.

one-ps.org