Architectural historian Steven Keylon explores the rich history of the designed landscape of the Coachella Valley during the 20th century.

Landscape architects working in this desert resort region created informal yet functional spaces for active outdoor living, shaping environments that celebrated both leisure and Modernist design principles. Using compelling examples from the 1920s through the 1970s, Keylon will examine the landscapes and visionary practitioners responsible for the evolution of Modernist landscape design within the broader context of 20th-century Modernism.

Steven Keylon lives in Palm Springs, California, and writes and lectures about Southern California's cultural landscapes. He is the past president of the California Garden & Landscape History Society (CGLHS) and has been editor of their journal Eden since 2017. He serves on the board of DocomomoUS/SoCal and is vice president of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation (PSPF). He is the author of several books: The Design of Herbert W. Burns (2018), The Modern Architecture of Hugh Michael Kaptur (2019), and co-author, with Tracy Conrad and Steve Vaught, of Tom O'Donnell: Generous Spirit of Palm Springs (2022).