Preservation Sessions
Previous Sessions
Join us for future sessions! We aim to have a mix of panel discussions, one-on-one discussions, and informative and entertaining interviews.
Sunnylands: Hidden Treasures and Archival Insights
‘Behind the scenes’ stories from Sunnylands’ director Janice Lyle and her team. Tasked with sorting through the Annenbergs’ possessions and archives with a deadline to opening day, they encountered treasures and surprises.
Architectural History of Thunderbird Country Club
Thunderbird Country Club’s architectural history, from 1951 through to the 1960s. Presented by local historian, Melissa Riche, the talk examines how midcentury architectural styles evolved at the club.
Tamarisk Country Club: Mid-Century History and Architecture
Acclaimed author Adele Cygelman speaks on: Arthur Elrod: Desert Modern Design
From the moment that Arthur Elrod opened his design and furnishings studio on Palm Canyon Drive in 1954, he became the most influential interior designer in the desert.
Join us with author Adele Cygelman as she discusses Arthur Elrod’s innovative interiors, which included a wide range of projects in Rancho Mirage, from Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s home at Thunderbird Country Club to condos at Tamarisk West to estates in Thunderbird Heights.
History Brunch with Melissa Riche ‘Rancho Mirage – how it grew from a 1930s subdivision’
Discover where and how ‘Rancho Mirage’ came to be during this deep dive into the history of the city. Before there were country clubs, there was empty desert, and a small subdivision that exists to this day, originally called ‘Rancho Mirage’ it became what we know today as Magnesia Falls Cove.
Join writer and Preservation Mirage founder Melissa Riche for the history of early Rancho Mirage, with images and information that will give you insights into how a group of homes for those who wanted a true desert escape grew into a community, then a city, from the 1930s to the city’s incorporation in 1973.