Mid Century Modern Tours
Nothing like seeing in person how seamlessly Mid Century Modern art and furniture fit into a Frank Lloyd Wright, E. Stewart Williams or Richard Neutra designed home. If you live in a smaller city and can’t find an organized tour, consider connecting with your local American Institute of Architects (AIA) organization. If there’s not one for your city, there will be for your state.
Modern Architecture & Design Society Tours (MA+DS) – This organization conducts home tours throughout the year in the following cities: Austin, TX, Boulder, CO, San Diego, CA, Washington, DC, Houston, TX, Vancouver, BC, Portland and Seattle, WA.
You pay for tickets online, print out your tickets or save it to your mobile device. On the tour day, you arrive at the homes listed on the website. You’re allowed entry to all the homes listed on the tour. The architects, interior designers and possibly even the homeowners will be there to meet you and explain how they used Mid Century Modern Design to meet homeowners’ needs and aesthetic preferences.
Sacramento Mid Century Modern Home Tours (June) – Lasting just one day, Sacramento Modern Association facilitates a self-guided tour showcasing a variety of mid-20th century living throughout South Land Park, Land Park, and Hollywood Park neighborhoods. The tour stops on examples from minimalist to kitsch, ranch and modern homes. Tickets include a guidebook with the history of these homes and the Mid Century Modern movement. The event also includes modern and vintage products from local designers and vendors.
The Modern Tour Palm Springs – This company leads groups of six or less through Palm Springs homes designed by Richard Neutra, Donald Wexler, E. Stewart Williams and William Krisel. During the two-and-a-half hour tour, visitors enter the homes of Hollywood icons, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Lawford and William Holden. The $200 fee isn’t cheap, but it includes a copy of the KPBS documentary Julius Shulmun: Desert Modern.
Chicago Architecture Center – Interested in the commercial buildings created by Modern architects? The Chicago Architecture Center runs a tour for private groups covering buildings by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Bertrand Goldberg and Harry Weese. The tour includes Marina City, the Daley Center, and the IBM building.
More Activities for Mid Century Modern Enthusiasts
