| Msgr. Patrick S. Brennan |
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Palm Springs is a unique town and a beautiful resort in the southern California Coachella Valley with a population of about 45,000. For lovers of "midcentury architecture," Palm Springs is a sort of Mecca. From the 1940s to the 1960s, the architectural style called "modernism" (see the house to the left) took root and developed. "Desert Modern," as it is sometimes called, was an architectural style featuring open-design plans, wall-to-wall carpeting, air-conditioning, swimming pools, and very large windows, fully merging inside and out.
Every February the city celebrates its architecture with walking and bus tours, home visits, and lectures. I was lucky enough to attend, and I came away convinced that the whole town and all of its neighborhoods need to be preserved and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Palm Springs, aside from being a popular resort, is a national treasure.