Enrich Your Vacation at These Palm Springs Museums

Palm Springs began as a destination for the Los Angeles elite to escape from the big city hustle and bustle. While it maintained its quaint gateway status, the most frequent visitors also brought with them a desire to enjoy the aspects of high culture that they left behind in the big cities while they enjoyed the quiet Palm Springs. As a result there are numerous fascinating and entertaining Palm Springs museums to enjoy while you are visiting the Coachella Valley. Whether you’re into arts, design, science or the outdoors, you’ll love the great selection of Palm Springs museums.

Palm Springs Museums to Visit

1. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
   The Coachella Valley was once home to Native Americans, including the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum’s mission it is to preserve the spirit of their people and other native tribes through exhibits, educational programs, research, and collections.Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs on the Village Green Heritage Center, the museum is among the most convenient cultural attractions to explore when visiting the city. From September through May it is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. June through August it is open 10 am to 5 pm, and also on Sundays from noon to 5 pm. Admission to Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is completely free!
2. Palm Springs Architecture Museum
   The Palm Springs Art Museum has a new feature ready to be enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. The new Palm Springs Architecture Museum, a celebration of the area’s unique mid-century design for which it is well known, is an inspiring place to visit in the midst of the city. This new museum both preserves and displays the country’s largest collection of Desert Modernism architecture found in both private and commercial buildings around the city. Now a 13,000 square foot glass and steel building, every bit a representation of the modern architecture it celebrates, and with a perfectly framed view of the cityscape and San Jacinto Mountains, it is the ideal place to visit to learn about this area’s unique place in the country’s architectural history.
3. Palm Springs Air Museum
   A trip to the Palm Springs Air Museum will help visitors to further understand what role air power has played over the decades in preserving our American liberties and shaped our way of life. Not only will you get to see some of the planes that actually flew in the Second World War, Korea, and Vietnam, but you’ll meet some of their pilots, and hear stories of the men who sacrificed their lives for this country.
4. San Gorgonio Wind Park
   The San Gorgonio Wind Park in Palm Springs is home to 2,700 wind turbines that were built in the 1980s, making it the oldest wind farm in the United States. While not your typical museum, touring this outdoor living exhibit is the best way to learn about how these turbines, some of them standing nearly 300 feet high, convert wind into energy.

For more ideas of things to do while visiting the area, download this free Palm Springs Vacation Guide!