Each time we come to our new favorite desert town, we try to focus on one specific architect. Today's was William Francis Cody (1916-1978). Mr. Cody was an influential desert modern architect working in Palm Springs during the peak of the Modern Architecture Movement.

Like many of the architects during the mid-20th century, Cody designed almost anything Palm Springs allowed him to; houses, cluster housing, churches, offices, restaurants, schools, hotels, and club houses. His residential projects illustrated simplicity of form, natural light, and large windows displaying a smooth connection between interior and exterior.
Our first stop was at L'Horizon Hotel. Built in 1952 by Mr. Cody with iconic, mid-century modern architecture, it has a rich Hollywood history. This was a favorite celebrity destination spot in the 50s and 60s, and it attracted guests of Hollywood's golden era including Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable and several U.S. Presidents. Steve and I both agreed, we would love to stay here one day. WOW.
Our next destination was the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center's Summer Lab (S/LAB) - Structures Program Exhibit.
This special exhibition was a selection of 6th-grade architectural models created by the students at St. Theresa Catholic School for the "Structures" program.

"Structures" is an in-class curriculum on the topic of modernism. Every year the students bring the city's architectural heritage to life through artful interpretations of noted midcentury homes and buildings in Greater Palm Springs. I would have loved this in 6th grade. What a great way to 'tour' the City.

Conveniently located outside the museum is William F. Cody's star. The Palm Springs Walk Of Stars immortalizes over four hundred celebrities. It is so fun to walk the walk and recognize so many greats.  Ruby Keeler, Al Jolson, William Powell, Rudolf Valentino and Harold Lloyd started the escape from Hollywood to the desert in the 1920s, all leaving their mark, captured in these stars.
Among the last projects in which Cody is credited as the designer was St. Theresa’s Catholic Church (1968).

This church is considered one of Cody's masterworks. He was an enthusiastic parishioner of the church and reportedly expended much time and creative effort on the commission. The church is in remarkably original condition and many of the interior elements designed by Cody remain intact.

One of Mr. Cody's early projects was the conversion of the 1936 Thunderbird Ranch to Thunderbird Country Club which led to design commissions for the clubhouses at Tamarisk, Eldorado, Seven Lakes and seven other Country Club developments. It is through these many projects that Cody is credited with the County Club Sub-division concept in the West. Interesting tidbit: the Ford Thunderbird was named after the Thunderbird County Club, where then Ford Motor Company chaiman, Ernest Breech, was a member.
No good tour misses a stop at a local cemetery. We chose Desert Memorial Park (1956) in Cathedral City.
William F. Cody suffered a debilitating stroke in 1973, passing away in 1978. He left behind a legacy of important contributions to what is known today as Desert Modernism. His career continues to serve as an inspiration to successive generations of architects.


From Atlas Obscura, we learned of the Lee R. Baxandall Bridge. The so-called Bridge of Thighs allows nudists to discreetly cross the road. Named after a prominent leader of the naturist movement, the bridge connects the two sides of the Desert Sun Inn Resort & Spa, a clothing-optional resort. The five-foot canvas panels ensure that only the heads of crossing naturists are seen, though a second layer of canvas was later added to further conceal overly-suggestive silhouettes and to prevent fender benders. Hysterical.

We briefly toured The Riviera. Original architect and visionary, Irwin Schuman fashioned the resort after major Vegas hotels like The Sands, The Flamingo, and The Stardust. Opening in 1959, this resort immediately became the go-to hot spot for celebrities and sophisticates like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, who would lounge by the pool and in the Presidential Suite.
Elvis Presley was a frequent visitor at here and sought both refuge and rehearsal space in the Mediterranean Room for his band before leaving for tours and shows in Las Vegas. It was the only hotel in the United States at the time to be built in a spoke wheel layout, a unique design which would fit into the psychedelic culture of the 60s because of its communal shape.
Back to William F. Cody. Following graduation in 1942 from USC, Cody apprenticed at several California firms, moving to Palm Springs in 1946. He was first employed staff architect for the Desert Inn Hotel, before setting off on his own to design the Del Marcos Hotel (1947).  This historic place was our home for the night.