History · Palm Springs · United States
8 historic sites to see in Palm Springs
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Moorten Botanical Garden, Palm Springs · Photo: YuriVict, Public domain
Quick answer
Start with Mid-century modern homes drive, Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 13–18 hours across 7 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 13–18 hours
- Areas
- Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms, Agua Caliente Reservation and South of downtown
Plan a trip to Palm Springs
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Historic sites in Palm Springs
Neighbourhood · Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms
1.Mid-century modern homes drive
Stewart Williams, Richard Neutra's Kaufmann House, John Lautner's Elrod House above Southridge, and streets of butterfly-roofed Alexander homes in Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms. Most are private homes seen from the street, with interiors opening mainly during Modernism Week tours.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- History
- Iconic
Nature · Agua Caliente Reservation
2.Indian Canyons
Andreas Canyon has a gentle loop of about 1.6 km past rock formations and a stream, and Murray Canyon leads to a series of small falls.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- History
- Photo spot
Nature · South of downtown
3.Tahquitz Canyon
The visitor centre at the trailhead has exhibits on Agua Caliente history, and rangers lead guided hikes on some days.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- History
Museum · Downtown Palm Springs
4.Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
Next door, The Spa at Séc-he is built over the hot mineral spring that gave Palm Springs its name.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Architecture · Downtown Palm Springs
5.Architecture and Design Center
Stewart Williams' 1961 Santa Fe Federal Savings and Loan, a glass pavilion with a floating roof on South Palm Canyon Drive. Rotating exhibitions cover desert modernism, architects such as Albert Frey and Donald Wexler, and the city's furniture and interior design.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Palm Springs Airport
6.Palm Springs Air Museum
It is one of the valley's best indoor options on a hot or windy day.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Historic site · Rancho Mirage
7.Sunnylands
Quincy Jones, has hosted presidents, royalty and summits. The visitor centre and its desert gardens are free to visit, while house tours and longer estate tours are paid and limited in size.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
Museum · Desert Hot Springs
8.Cabot's Pueblo Museum
Guided tours explain his eccentric life, and a large carved Native American head stands outside.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms | Mid-century modern homes drive | 2–3 hours |
| Agua Caliente Reservation | Indian Canyons | 2–4 hours |
| South of downtown | Tahquitz Canyon | 2 hours |
| Downtown Palm Springs | Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Architecture and Design Center | 1.5–2 hours + 45 minutes |
| Palm Springs Airport | Palm Springs Air Museum | 2 hours |
| Rancho Mirage | Sunnylands | 1–3 hours |
| Desert Hot Springs | Cabot's Pueblo Museum | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 2 free, 5 low cost, 1 mid-priced. Book ahead for Sunnylands. The longest visit is Indian Canyons; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Sunnylands: House tours sell out quickly in winter; book online as soon as tickets are released.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Vista Las Palmas and Twin Palms): Mid-century modern homes drive, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Agua Caliente Reservation): Indian Canyons, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (South of downtown and Downtown Palm Springs): Tahquitz Canyon → Agua Caliente Cultural Museum → Architecture and Design Center, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Palm Springs Airport and Rancho Mirage): Palm Springs Air Museum → Sunnylands, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Desert Hot Springs): Cabot's Pueblo Museum, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- July: highs of 42°C (108°F), about 1 rainy days, very quiet crowds. The hottest month, with nights that barely cool; some restaurants and attractions reduce hours or close.
- August: highs of 42°C (108°F), about 1 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Extreme heat with a chance of monsoon thunderstorms and dust storms; the lowest prices of the year for those who just want a pool.
- September: highs of 39°C (102°F), about 1 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Still very hot, especially early in the month; evenings become pleasant by late September.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Downtown Palm Springs — Palm Canyon Drive shops, museums and restaurants within walking distance of most hotels
- South Palm Springs — Deepwell, Canyon Corridor and golf-course condos on the road to the Indian Canyons
- Rancho Mirage — Large spa resorts, golf clubs and the Annenberg estate at Sunnylands
More of Palm Springs
All things to do in Palm Springs · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Palm Springs?
Mid-century modern homes drive. Palm Springs' modernist houses are best seen on a self-guided drive or bike ride: Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms by E.
+Which of these are free in Palm Springs?
Mid-century modern homes drive and Sunnylands.