Travel through time in Greater Palm Springs, where desert landscapes meet history and modern times. From modernist architecture and historic estates to early settlements and desert ranches, the Coachella Valley offers history lovers a deeper look at the stories that shaped Southern California’s culture.

Dive into Palm Springs' Cultural Heritage

Since time immemorial, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians have called this region home. In downtown Palm Springs, the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza honors the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians’ history and legacy. The plaza is home to The Spa at Séc-he, built on the site of the sacred Agua Caliente Hot Mineral Spring, where visitors can relax in mineral pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and treatment spaces inspired by the area’s natural setting.

Also located at the Cultural Plaza is the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, which offers a closer look at history, culture and traditions.

Palm Springs Historical Tours

To explore the city’s past on foot, join one of the historical walking tours led by the Palm Springs Historical Society. They offer more than a dozen themed routes, including the popular Golden Era Hollywood Homes tour. Hollywood legends like Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, and Judy Garland once called Palm Springs home, and this walk through the Old Las Palmas neighborhood highlights remarkable examples of Spanish Colonial and midcentury modern architecture.

Note: Walking tours run from October to March, with private tours available during the summer. For those who prefer wheels over walking, bike and car tours are also available.

No history-focused trip is complete without a stop at a classic restaurant. Melvyn’s Restaurant is an iconic Palm Springs dining spot and a former favorite of the Rat Pack. Recently celebrating its 50th anniversary, the restaurant serves longtime staples such as Caesar salad, shrimp scampi, and beef wellington. Cocktails lean old-school, with martinis prepared tableside and a Vesper inspired by Casino Royale.

Greater Palm Springs’ Icons of Midcentury and Modernity

Set against the backdrop of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains, Sunnylands is a must-visit for those interested in architecture and political history. Formerly the winter home of ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg, who hosted U.S. presidents and notable figures, the estate is now open to the public with no admission fees.

For architecture-minded travelers, the Edris House offers a rare look inside a modernist landmark. Designed by modernist architect E. Stewart Williams in 1954, the home is open to the public just once a year during Modernism Week, an annual celebration of modernist design in Palm Springs. Fans of modernist architecture can spend days exploring the desert’s celebrated modernist architecture, art, and interior design.

History Takes Flight

The Palm Springs Air Museum boasts one of the largest collections of flyable World War II aircraft. Spread across five hangars and more than 91,000 square feet, the museum displays over 75 military airplanes and helicopters, spanning conflicts from World War II through the War on Terror. For dedicated aircraft enthusiasts, the museum also offers flight experiences in select aircraft, including the C-47 Skytrain and the P-51 Mustang, considered the premier United States fighter plane of World War II.

Desert Mystique and Regional Stories

At the Coachella Valley History Museum, visitors can explore the art, culture, and agricultural history of the Coachella Valley. Permanent exhibits include a gallery dedicated to the date palm, tracing how one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops traveled from the Middle East to become a key part of Southern California’s farming history. Each fall, the museum also hosts a Día de los Muertos celebration that honors regional traditions and heritage.

In Desert Hot Springs, Cabot’s Pueblo Museum is a must-see for those drawn to the desert’s more unconventional stories. Built by homesteader Cabot Yerxa in the early 20th century, the pueblo-style home reflects the surrounding mountains through its varied rooflines and organic form. After Yerxa’s death, the house narrowly escaped demolition before being saved by Cole Eyraud, a longtime friend of Yerxa’s. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, you can experience the home via a guided tour.

Visitors traveling through Joshua Tree National Park can add a stop at Keys Ranch to their itinerary. William Keys arrived in the area in 1910 in search of gold, and his wife, Frances, joined him a few years later. Together, they lived at the remote ranch for over 60 years, supporting themselves through ranching and mining. Today, the historic homestead is accessible only by guided tour, offered from October to May.

For a look at how the Greater Palm Springs continues to evolve, head just off Interstate-10 to see the region’s wind farms. With roughly 2,100 towering wind turbines, the site highlights the area’s role in renewable energy. Visitors can explore the windmills on a self-guided drive or join a guided tour by golf cart for a closer look.

Discover the deeper stories that shape our destination. Explore more of the rich Native heritage of Greater Palm Springs here.