Tours
Docomomo is known for its uniquely crafted tours, bringing you to sites not usually open to the public, with expert guides leading the way. Make sure to book one or two to get the full picture of California Modernism.
A Note About the Waitlist
Several tours are now waitlist only. If and when a spot opens up on a tour, you will be notified via email in the order in which you appear on the waitlist. Registration instructions will be provided and you will have a set amount of time before the spot is offered to the next person in line.
WAITLIST ONLY | Icons of Innovation: Neutra and Wright in Bakersfield
With an economy fueled by oil and agriculture, Bakersfield drew master modern architects from Southern California to design residences and commercial buildings. This day-long tour includes a lecture, coach transportation, boxed lunch, and a guided tour of six sites.
WAITLIST ONLY | A Day with Charles and Ray: Living and Working at the Eames House (Mon)
Spend a day experiencing the Eameses’ lives, work, and philosophies, guided by the Charles & Ray Eames Foundation team.
From Tradition to Tomorrow: The Architecture of Paul R. Williams
Discover the modern genius of Paul R. Williams, an architect who sought to unite timeless design with his innovative vision.
Grand Ambitions on Bunker Hill: LA’s Civic and Cultural Spine
Explore Grand Avenue and its environs, the city’s civic and cultural spine. Complements the Downtown Skyline and Modernism by Moonlight tours.
WAITLIST ONLY | A Day with Charles and Ray: Living and Working at the Eames House (Tues)
Spend a day experiencing the Eameses’ lives, work, and philosophies, guided by the Charles & Ray Eames Foundation team.
Modern by Moonlight
Join us for an evening walk downtown and admire the city’s skyline. Complements the Bunker Hill tour, which highlights the city’s civic and cultural center; duplicates material on the Modern Skyline tour.
WAITLIST ONLY | Neutra: At Home in the Colony
Following a lecture by author and Neutra scholar, Barbara Lamprecht, PhD., at the historic Neutra Office Building (1950), participants will tour the office apartments, Reunion House (1950), VDL Studio and Residences (1932; 1964), and other homes along Neutra Place.
NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | Palm Springs Modernism in the Desert (Two Nights)
Join us for this exclusive 2+ day tour of Modernism in the Desert organized in partnership with Palm Springs Modernism Week.
WAITLIST ONLY | Beyond the Craftsman: Pasadena’s Modern Vision
Tour the impressive collection of modern architecture tucked away in Pasadena’s neighborhoods – includes stops at Frank Lloyd Wright’s La Miniatura, two residences by Buff and Hensman, and the personal home of John Kelsey. Lunch is included; full-day bus tour.
WAITLIST ONLY | Lines and Light: Inside the Sheats Goldstein Residence (AM)
Explore the soaring, cave-like interiors, seamless indoor-outdoor flow, and breathtaking views of the Sheats Goldstein Residence.
WAITLIST ONLY | Lines and Light: Inside the Sheats Goldstein Residence (PM)
Explore the soaring, cave-like interiors, seamless indoor-outdoor flow, and breathtaking views of the Sheats Goldstein Residence.
Cars to the Curb: The Radical Vision of Baldwin Hills Village
Join us for an exclusive tour of the Village Green (originally Baldwin Hills Village), where we'll explore one of America's most significant examples of modernist community planning and environmental design.
Modern Skyline
Get up close to the public art tucked away within the plazas of sleek high-rises, and enjoy the views from the postmodern Bunker Hills Steps. Complements the Bunker Hill tour; duplicates material on the Modernism by Moonlight tour.
WAITLIST ONLY | Cultivating Culture: Three R.M Schindler Residences
Discover the bold vision of R.M. Schindler and explore his legacy in Los Angeles on this special half-day bus tour that offers an insider’s look at the MAK Center for Art and Architecture’s three remarkable Schindler-designed sites.
WAITLIST ONLY | Killingsworth & Company: Modernist Mavericks in Long Beach
On this full-day bus excursion, tour the residences of local masters Edward Killingsworth and Raphael Soriano, while viewing landmark designs by Irving Gill, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, Hugh and Donald Gibbs, Cliff May, and more along the way.
Conjunctive Points: Deconstructivism in the Hayden Tract
The tour begins with a brief lecture about the history of the Hayden Tract, the developers Frederick and Laurie Samitauer Smith, and is followed by an extensive self-guided walking tour of the neighborhood.