September 1, 2025 • 8 mins
The Palm Springs Art Museum opened in its present location and building almost 50 years ago. We delve into its history today.
This episode of A Bert’s Eye View is brought to you by Modernism Week— the celebration of midcentury and modern architecture, design, and culture in sunny Palm Springs, California. Join the fun in October and February with tours, talks, parties, and more—tickets and details at modernismweek.com.
The information presented in this podcast is for general knowledge and entertainment purposes only. All research that was done and opinions expressed are our own and not necessarily those of Modernism Week.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:06):
Hey there, and welcome to Upper's Eye View.
My name is Bert and I'm the Buster Operations Manager for
Modernism Week in Palm Springs, CA.
I coordinate all of our double Decker bus tours during our
Modernism Week festivals in February and October.
Many of you have been our guestsand we hope that you'll return.
If you haven't joined us yet, please do.
(00:28):
It's a great introduction to ourcity and its architecture.
While doing research for the bustours, I come across a lot of
information that we just don't have time to share.
This series of podcasts will highlight some of those
interesting details that we cannot cover during your short
time with us. So TuneIn and enjoy a bird's eye
(00:49):
view. If you visited Modernism Week
during our four day event every October, you probably noticed
that our bus tours depart acrossthe street from the Palm Springs
Art Museum and not the hotel like in February.
The museum has been in this monumental building on Museum
(01:12):
Drive, designed by E Stewart Williams for this purpose, since
1976. But the museum has a much longer
history than these nearly 50 years.
The museum is 87 years old. It was started in 1938 as the
Palm Springs Desert Museum in a small storefront at the LA Plaza
shopping Center downtown. Natural science exhibits, Kahiya
(01:36):
Indian artifacts, and hiking excursions were the mainstays of
the Desert Museum. Finances for the museum were not
great during those early years. The bank account was down to
$2.57 at one point, and only community enthusiasm kept it
afloat. Through the 1940's, the museum
(01:56):
relocated several times, housed in makeshift spaces including a
Quonset Hut and even a railroad tie structure.
These early decades laid the groundwork for growth and
exhibited the commitment by PalmSprings residents to a cultural
institution. By 1958, the museum built its
first permanent home on what wasthen called Tokowitz, McCallum
(02:18):
Way and Indian Ave. It was designed collaboratively
by the local architectural firmsWilliams, Williams and Williams.
That's Dad, Harry and his two sons, E Stewart and Roger, and
Clark Frey and Chambers with John Porter, Clark, Albert Frey
and Robson Chambers. The roughly 6000 square foot
(02:39):
facility elevated the museum from fledgling storefront
cultural exhibits to a true museum.
Gradually, the museum's focus shifted towards fine art.
Its board and programming recognized the value of cultural
displays alongside Natural History, signaling the tilt from
science and artifacts towards art.
(03:02):
A notable highlight came in 1964with Swiss artist Hans
Burkhardt's exhibition of Abstract Expressionism
paintings, which introduced the style to regional audiences and
helped pivot the museum's identity towards modern art.
In 1965, Frederick's Light came to Palm Springs from Orlando, FL
(03:23):
where he was the Co founder and director of the Central Florida
Museum and Planetarium. Sleight became executive
director of the Palm Springs Desert Museum, hoping to make
the museum quote a prime Cultural Center of the desert.
UN quote. Meanwhile, his wife, Alice
Sleight established the Docent program, enriching public
(03:43):
engagement. Museum attendance and
programming surged with this renewed enthusiasm for the
museum. By the late 1960's, the space
was inadequate for the growing collection and audience,
requiring plans for a larger space in a new site.
Wanting to continue their focus on art, in 1970 the Museum
(04:05):
trustees created the Living Desert Reserve, now the Living
Desert Zoo and Gardens, and moved much of their collection
of natural specimens to the sitein Palm Desert.
The zoo eventually broke away from the Palm Springs Desert
Museum and grew from its original 360 acres to more than
1200 acres in 1978. Back in Palm Springs, the museum
(04:28):
trustees challenged Fred Sleightand E Stewart Williams to come
up with an idea for a new building.
In 1970, after the Living DesertReserve was created, Home
Savings donated nearly 4 acres to the museum and ideas sprang
forth. The site was long and narrow and
set right against the domineering mountainside.
(04:50):
Williams's design, fitting into the site yet monumental, used
volcanic rock from Inyo County and floated over a sculpture
garden, a signature Williams featured.
He also rippled the exposing concrete to imitate the wind
blown dunes in the desert. The museum would be 3 floors,
not counting the sculpture garden, to fit into the site and
(05:11):
not hinder views of the mountainbehind it.
Construction started in 1973 andto control costs they did not
build a third floor at that time.
The building opened in January 1976 and featured not only art
galleries, public spaces, but also a 433 seat theater with
(05:31):
excellent acoustics for performances and presentations.
In 1981, the Marks Administration Building, also
designed by Williams, was added on the north side, providing
much needed office and support infrastructure.
Long time museum supporter and designer Steve Chase left $1.5
(05:51):
million and 132 pieces of art from his collection to the
museum in 1994, which required the construction of Williams.
Long planned and never built third floor.
Williams came out of retirement to refine his drawings for the
third floor, known as the Steve Chase Wing, and moved it to the
back of the building so that it would be less intrusive and not
(06:13):
block views of the mountain. The museum changed its name from
the Palm Springs Desert Museum to the Palm Springs Art Museum
in 2005, focusing on becoming a visual and performing arts
institution. In addition to the main
building, the museum also owns and operates the Palm Springs
Art Museum Architecture and Design Center.
(06:36):
Edwards Harris Pavilion in the former E Stewart Williams
designed 1961 Santa Fe Federal Savings and Loan Building.
The historically designated FreyHouse 2 on the mountain above
the museum, as well as the Illuminaire House reconstructed
in the former South parking lot,are also museum properties.
(06:56):
To share more sculptures, the museum has the Faye Sarkowski
Sculpture Garden in Palm Desert,just West of the Shops on El
Paseo. Over nearly 90 years, the Palm
Springs Art Museum has gone froma small Natural History
storefront into a nationally accredited, architecturally
significant and regionally vitalart institution.
(07:18):
Its architectural history, from humble beginnings to multiple
landmarks designed by Williams, is inseparable from its cultural
identity. Today's museum stands not just
as a display space for modern and contemporary art, but also
as a curator of mid century design, photography, native and
Western art, and desert modern architecture.
(07:42):
So if you happen to be in town on a Thursday evening, take
advantage of the museum's free admission.
Or if you're visiting for the weekend, the entrance fee is
well worth the time you spend checking out the collection.
Thanks to Lisa Bosler Smith, CEOof Modernism Week and a former
senior staff member at the Palm Springs Art Museum, for looking
(08:04):
over my research for this podcast.
Support for A bird's Eye view comes from Modernism Week,
celebrating global modernism andPalm Springs design each October
and February. Learnmore@modernismweek.com.
Hey there, and welcome to Upper's Eye View.
My name is Bert and I'm the Buster Operations Manager for
Modernism Week in Palm Springs, CA.
I coordinate all of our double Decker bus tours during our
Modernism Week festivals in February and October.
Many of you have been our guestsand we hope that you'll return.
If you haven't joined us yet, please do.
(00:28):
It's a great introduction to ourcity and its architecture.
While doing research for the bustours, I come across a lot of
information that we just don't have time to share.
This series of podcasts will highlight some of those
interesting details that we cannot cover during your short
time with us. So TuneIn and enjoy a bird's eye
(00:49):
view. If you visited Modernism Week
during our four day event every October, you probably noticed
that our bus tours depart acrossthe street from the Palm Springs
Art Museum and not the hotel like in February.
The museum has been in this monumental building on Museum
(01:12):
Drive, designed by E Stewart Williams for this purpose, since
1976. But the museum has a much longer
history than these nearly 50 years.
The museum is 87 years old. It was started in 1938 as the
Palm Springs Desert Museum in a small storefront at the LA Plaza
shopping Center downtown. Natural science exhibits, Kahiya
(01:36):
Indian artifacts, and hiking excursions were the mainstays of
the Desert Museum. Finances for the museum were not
great during those early years. The bank account was down to
$2.57 at one point, and only community enthusiasm kept it
afloat. Through the 1940's, the museum
(01:56):
relocated several times, housed in makeshift spaces including a
Quonset Hut and even a railroad tie structure.
These early decades laid the groundwork for growth and
exhibited the commitment by PalmSprings residents to a cultural
institution. By 1958, the museum built its
first permanent home on what wasthen called Tokowitz, McCallum
(02:18):
Way and Indian Ave. It was designed collaboratively
by the local architectural firmsWilliams, Williams and Williams.
That's Dad, Harry and his two sons, E Stewart and Roger, and
Clark Frey and Chambers with John Porter, Clark, Albert Frey
and Robson Chambers. The roughly 6000 square foot
(02:39):
facility elevated the museum from fledgling storefront
cultural exhibits to a true museum.
Gradually, the museum's focus shifted towards fine art.
Its board and programming recognized the value of cultural
displays alongside Natural History, signaling the tilt from
science and artifacts towards art.
(03:02):
A notable highlight came in 1964with Swiss artist Hans
Burkhardt's exhibition of Abstract Expressionism
paintings, which introduced the style to regional audiences and
helped pivot the museum's identity towards modern art.
In 1965, Frederick's Light came to Palm Springs from Orlando, FL
(03:23):
where he was the Co founder and director of the Central Florida
Museum and Planetarium. Sleight became executive
director of the Palm Springs Desert Museum, hoping to make
the museum quote a prime Cultural Center of the desert.
UN quote. Meanwhile, his wife, Alice
Sleight established the Docent program, enriching public
(03:43):
engagement. Museum attendance and
programming surged with this renewed enthusiasm for the
museum. By the late 1960's, the space
was inadequate for the growing collection and audience,
requiring plans for a larger space in a new site.
Wanting to continue their focus on art, in 1970 the Museum
(04:05):
trustees created the Living Desert Reserve, now the Living
Desert Zoo and Gardens, and moved much of their collection
of natural specimens to the sitein Palm Desert.
The zoo eventually broke away from the Palm Springs Desert
Museum and grew from its original 360 acres to more than
1200 acres in 1978. Back in Palm Springs, the museum
(04:28):
trustees challenged Fred Sleightand E Stewart Williams to come
up with an idea for a new building.
In 1970, after the Living DesertReserve was created, Home
Savings donated nearly 4 acres to the museum and ideas sprang
forth. The site was long and narrow and
set right against the domineering mountainside.
(04:50):
Williams's design, fitting into the site yet monumental, used
volcanic rock from Inyo County and floated over a sculpture
garden, a signature Williams featured.
He also rippled the exposing concrete to imitate the wind
blown dunes in the desert. The museum would be 3 floors,
not counting the sculpture garden, to fit into the site and
(05:11):
not hinder views of the mountainbehind it.
Construction started in 1973 andto control costs they did not
build a third floor at that time.
The building opened in January 1976 and featured not only art
galleries, public spaces, but also a 433 seat theater with
(05:31):
excellent acoustics for performances and presentations.
In 1981, the Marks Administration Building, also
designed by Williams, was added on the north side, providing
much needed office and support infrastructure.
Long time museum supporter and designer Steve Chase left $1.5
(05:51):
million and 132 pieces of art from his collection to the
museum in 1994, which required the construction of Williams.
Long planned and never built third floor.
Williams came out of retirement to refine his drawings for the
third floor, known as the Steve Chase Wing, and moved it to the
back of the building so that it would be less intrusive and not
(06:13):
block views of the mountain. The museum changed its name from
the Palm Springs Desert Museum to the Palm Springs Art Museum
in 2005, focusing on becoming a visual and performing arts
institution. In addition to the main
building, the museum also owns and operates the Palm Springs
Art Museum Architecture and Design Center.
(06:36):
Edwards Harris Pavilion in the former E Stewart Williams
designed 1961 Santa Fe Federal Savings and Loan Building.
The historically designated FreyHouse 2 on the mountain above
the museum, as well as the Illuminaire House reconstructed
in the former South parking lot,are also museum properties.
(06:56):
To share more sculptures, the museum has the Faye Sarkowski
Sculpture Garden in Palm Desert,just West of the Shops on El
Paseo. Over nearly 90 years, the Palm
Springs Art Museum has gone froma small Natural History
storefront into a nationally accredited, architecturally
significant and regionally vitalart institution.
(07:18):
Its architectural history, from humble beginnings to multiple
landmarks designed by Williams, is inseparable from its cultural
identity. Today's museum stands not just
as a display space for modern and contemporary art, but also
as a curator of mid century design, photography, native and
Western art, and desert modern architecture.
(07:42):
So if you happen to be in town on a Thursday evening, take
advantage of the museum's free admission.
Or if you're visiting for the weekend, the entrance fee is
well worth the time you spend checking out the collection.
Thanks to Lisa Bosler Smith, CEOof Modernism Week and a former
senior staff member at the Palm Springs Art Museum, for looking
(08:04):
over my research for this podcast.
Support for A bird's Eye view comes from Modernism Week,
celebrating global modernism andPalm Springs design each October
and February. Learnmore@modernismweek.com.
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