Architectural Historian · Palm Springs
Steven Keylon
Writing, researching, and lecturing about California's built environment, with an emphasis on its historic landscapes.
Editor of Eden, the journal of the California Garden & Landscape History Society.
About
California's gardens, grounds, and buildings — and the people who made them.
Steven Keylon is an architectural historian based in Palm Springs. He writes, researches, and lectures about California’s built environment, with a particular interest in its historic gardens and designed landscapes. His work usually begins with a single place — a house, a courtyard, a golf course — and the people who made it: the architect, the landscape architect, the client, the gardener.
He has edited Eden, the journal of the California Garden & Landscape History Society, since 2017, and is the society’s past president. In 2023 the society and its journal received a California Governor’s Historic Preservation Award. His own articles for the journal range from the landscape of Dodger Stadium to the smoke trees of Palm Springs to the indoor-outdoor rooms of Van Keppel-Green.
His books include The Design of Herbert W. Burns and The Modern Architecture of Hugh Michael Kaptur, studies of two Palm Springs designers, and Tom O’Donnell: Generous Spirit of Palm Springs, written with Steve Vaught and Tracy Conrad. He edited Canyon Country Club and contributed essays to Shaping the Postwar Landscape and California Eden. Several have received Independent Publisher Book Awards. He is now writing a biography of the landscape architect Tommy Tomson.
Alongside the writing, he prepares the documentation that protects historic places — more than a dozen Class 1 historic site nominations for the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation among them. His cultural-landscape work includes the report for the Village Green in Los Angeles, a National Historic Landmark, and award-winning projects at the Hindry House in Pasadena and the Historic American Landscape Survey of the Virginia Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills, both honored by the California Preservation Foundation. In 2022 the Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board gave him its Certificate of Recognition.
He is a board member of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, a founding member of the Stewardship Council of The Cultural Landscape Foundation, and sits on the advisory board of Docomomo US/SoCal. He lives in Palm Springs.
Books
Books
Author2018
AuthorThe Design of Herbert W. BurnsPalm Springs Preservation Foundation · 2018
Contributor2018
ContributorShaping the Postwar LandscapeEd. Charles Birnbaum & Scott Craver · University of Virginia Press · 2018Essays on landscape architects Fred Barlow, Jr. and Tommy Tomson.
Author2019
AuthorThe Modern Architecture of Hugh Michael KapturPalm Springs Preservation Foundation · 2019
Gold Medal, Architecture — IPPY Book Awards, 2021
Co-author2022
Co-authorTom O’Donnell: Generous Spirit of Palm SpringsWith Steve Vaught & Tracy Conrad · PSPF · 2022
Bronze Medal, History — IPPY Book Awards, 2023
Contributor2024
ContributorCalifornia Eden: Heritage Landscapes of the Golden StateEd. Christine Edstrom O’Hara & Susan Chamberlin · Angel City Press · 2024Essay on landscape architect Katherine Bashford.
Editor2025
EditorCanyon Country Club: History and Design of Palm Springs’ Garden of EdenBy Steve Treinen · PSPF · 2025
Silver Medal, Architecture — IPPY Book Awards
AuthorThe Design of Herbert W. BurnsPalm Springs Preservation Foundation · 2018
Contributor2018ContributorShaping the Postwar LandscapeEd. Charles Birnbaum & Scott Craver · University of Virginia Press · 2018Essays on landscape architects Fred Barlow, Jr. and Tommy Tomson.
Author2019AuthorThe Modern Architecture of Hugh Michael KapturPalm Springs Preservation Foundation · 2019Gold Medal, Architecture — IPPY Book Awards, 2021
Co-author2022Co-authorTom O’Donnell: Generous Spirit of Palm SpringsWith Steve Vaught & Tracy Conrad · PSPF · 2022Bronze Medal, History — IPPY Book Awards, 2023
Contributor2024ContributorCalifornia Eden: Heritage Landscapes of the Golden StateEd. Christine Edstrom O’Hara & Susan Chamberlin · Angel City Press · 2024Essay on landscape architect Katherine Bashford.
Editor2025EditorCanyon Country Club: History and Design of Palm Springs’ Garden of EdenBy Steve Treinen · PSPF · 2025Silver Medal, Architecture — IPPY Book Awards
Author—
AuthorThe Glamorous Gardens of Tommy TomsonIn progress
AuthorThe Glamorous Gardens of Tommy TomsonIn progressArticles
Articles in Eden
- Eden2013
Taming the Car — A Vision for Los Angeles: Fred Barlow, Jr.’s Innovative Landscape for Baldwin Hills VillageEden · Vol. 16, No. 1 · Winter 2013View → - Eden2013
The California Landscapes of Katherine BashfordEden · Vol. 16, No. 4 · Fall 2013View → - Eden2014
The Landscape of Dodger StadiumEden · Vol. 17, No. 2 · Spring 2014View → - Eden2015
The Glamorous Gardens of Tommy Tomson — Part OneEden · Vol. 18, No. 4 · Fall 2015View → - Eden2016
The Glamorous Gardens of Tommy Tomson — Part TwoEden · Vol. 19, No. 1 · Winter 2016View → - Eden2017
Tahquitz River EstatesEden · Vol. 20, No. 3 · Summer 2017 · with Steven PriceView → - Eden2017
The Landscape of the Palm Springs Woman’s ClubEden · Vol. 20, No. 4 · Fall 2017View → - Eden2017
The Founding Mothers of Palm SpringsEden · Vol. 20, No. 4 · Fall 2017 · with Renee BrownView → - Eden2020
The Mysterious Smoke Trees of Palm SpringsEden · Vol. 23, No. 2 · Spring 2020View → - Eden2021
Twenty-Five Years of EdenEden · Vol. 24, No. 1 · Winter 2021View → - Eden2021
Outside IN — Van Keppel-Green: The Origins of Modern Indoor-Outdoor DesignEden · Vol. 24, No. 3 · Summer 2021View → - Eden2022
Contemporary Landscape Architecture: The 1937 Exhibition at the San Francisco Art MuseumEden · Vol. 25, No. 2 · Spring 2022View → - Eden2022
Artist John Kosta: Painting a Love Letter to the River of AngelsEden · Vol. 25, No. 4 · Fall 2022View → - Eden2023
Palm Springs WeekendEden · Vol. 26, No. 2 · Spring 2023View → - Eden2023
Beverly Hills’ First Grand Estate: The Development of Harry and Virginia Robinson’s GardensEden · Vol. 26, No. 3 · Summer 2023View → - Eden2024
Climate Change and Grass at Historic Golf CoursesEden · Vol. 27, No. 1 · Spring/Summer 2024View → - Eden2026
Miosogno: Eckbo, Royston, & Williams’ Garden for Leon and Thea Koerner, Palm Springs, 1955Eden · Vol. 29, No. 1 · Winter 2026 · newest issueView →
Reports
Reports & nominations
- HCS2012
Garden Apartments of Los Angeles — Historic Context StatementLos Angeles · 2012 · landscape historian · with Architectural Resources Group for the Los Angeles ConservancyView → - CLR2013
The Village Green: Cultural Landscape Report, Part OneFred Barlow, Jr., landscape architect · Los Angeles, 1941 · co-author with Holly Kane & Sara Loe · Village Green Owners Association, 2013View → - CLR2018
Hindry House — Cultural Landscape ReportPasadena · 2018 · architectural historian · with Lisa Gimmy, landscape architectPreservation Design Award, California Preservation Foundation, 2018Historic Preservation Award, City of Pasadena, 2018Merit Award for Preservation, ASLA Southern California, 2018View → - HALS2022
Virginia Robinson Gardens — Historic American Landscape SurveyBeverly Hills · 2022 · architectural historian · project co-leads Alison Terry & Lisa Gimmy, landscape architects; with Kelly Comras, landscape architectPreservation Design Award, California Preservation Foundation, 2023Public Stewardship Award, ASLA Southern CaliforniaView → - PSPF2018
Kirschner Residence — Class 1 NominationBrewster & Benedict, architects · Palm Springs, 1937 · PSPF, 2018View → - PSPF2019
O’Donnell Golf Course — Class 1 NominationPalm Springs, 1927 · PSPF, 2019View → - PSPF2019
Crockett Residence — Class 1 NominationHerbert W. Burns, designer · Palm Springs, 1952 · PSPF, 2019View → - PSPF2020
Gillman Residence — Class 1 NominationHerbert W. Burns, designer · Palm Springs, 1948 · PSPF, 2020View → - PSPF2021
Wexler Residence — Class 1 NominationDonald Wexler, architect · Palm Springs, 1954 · PSPF, 2021View → - PSPF2022
Hicks Residence — Class 1 NominationPalm Springs, 1926 · PSPF, 2022View → - PSPF2022
Koerner Residence — Class 1 NominationE. Stewart Williams; Eckbo, Royston & Williams · Palm Springs, 1955 · PSPF, 2022View → - PSPF2023
Merrill Lynch Building — Class 1 NominationDonald Wexler, architect · Palm Springs, 1971 · PSPF, 2023View → - PSPF2023
Ratner Residence — Class 1 NominationWexler & Harrison, architects · Palm Springs, 1960 · PSPF, 2023View → - PSPF2024
Cullerton-Chaddick Residence — Class 1 NominationWilliam F. Cody, architect · Palm Springs, 1965 · PSPF, 2024View → - PSPF2024
Garber Residence — Class 1 NominationRichard A. Harrison, architect · Palm Springs, 1970 · PSPF, 2024View → - PSPF2025
Siemon Residence — Class 1 NominationWilliam F. Cody, architect · Palm Springs, 1967 · PSPF, 2025View → - PSPF2025
Goulding Estate — Class 1 NominationPalm Springs, 1936 · PSPF, 2025View → - PSPF2025
Simon Residence — Class 1 NominationBrewster & Benedict, architects · Palm Springs, 1936 · PSPF, 2025View → - PSPF2025
Sagewood Condominiums — Class 1 District NominationDonald Wexler · Palm Springs, 1972 · co-author with Claude Peck · PSPF, 2025View → - PSPF2025
Temple Isaiah — Class 1 NominationDavid Christian, architect · Palm Springs, 1982–87 · PSPF, 2025View →
Lectures
Lectures, tours & workshops
- Tour of Baldwin Hills VillageCalifornia Preservation Foundation ConferenceMay 2007
- “Trees, Time and Interim Treatments: Avoiding the Cutting Edge?”Lecture with Robert Page (National Park Service) and Noel Vernon (Cal Poly Pomona) · California Preservation Foundation ConferenceMay 2011
- “AIA|LA HRC: Tour of Village Green”Lecture and tour with Katie Horak, Architectural Resources GroupJul 2012
- “I Heart Garden Apartments Day!”Lecture and tour of Village Green with Katie Horak · Los Angeles ConservancyOct 2012
- “We Heart Garden Apartments!”Lecture with Katie Horak; tour of Village Green · Los Angeles ConservancyNov 2012
- “What’s Out There Weekend Los Angeles”The Cultural Landscape Foundation · Planning, research, and tours of Baldwin Hills Village, Union Station, and the Los Angeles Civic CenterOct 2013
- “Preserving Landscapes: Looking Beyond the Building”California Preservation Foundation workshop, USC · Baldwin Hills Village and the Village Green CLRMar 2014
- “Understanding Cultural Landscapes”Fundamentals of Heritage Conservation Summer Course, USCAug 2014
- “It Takes a Village Green”Society of Architectural Historians, Southern California Chapter · Lecture and tour with Holly KaneSep 2014
- “We Heart Garden Apartments”Los Angeles Conservancy · Lecture and toursNov 2014
- “What’s Out There Weekend — The Public Landscapes of Ralph Cornell”The Cultural Landscape Foundation · Planning, research, and tours of the Los Angeles Civic Center and Hillside Memorial ParkNov 2014
- “Digitally Exploring the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden”UCLA, with Lisa Gimmy · Prof. Philip LeersFeb 2015
- Lecture on the Murphy Sculpture GardenUCLA Extension, with Lisa Gimmy · Prof. Meg Rushing CoffeeMay 2015
- “Understanding Cultural Landscapes”Fundamentals of Heritage Conservation Summer Course, USCJul 2015
- “Fundamentals of Mid-Century Landscapes: Modern Settings”California Preservation Foundation webinar · With Barbara Lamprecht, Kelly Comras, Lisa Gimmy, Rhett Beavers, and Ted ClearySep 2015
- “Understanding Cultural Landscapes”Fundamentals of Heritage Conservation Summer Course, USCAug 2016
- “A Focus on Modernism: Design Regulations & Review”California Preservation Foundation workshop · With Alan Hess, Barbara Lamprecht, Taylor Louden, and Margarita JarabekSep 2016
- “Bashford and Barlow: Landscape Collaborations That Bridged the Traditional to the Modern”Huntington LibraryNov 2016
- “Pastoral Pasadena”California Preservation Foundation Study Tour · Hindry CLR with Lisa Gimmy and Kelly Sutherlin McLeod; tours of Hindry House, the Gamble House, the Storrier-Stearns Japanese Garden, and the King ResidenceMay 2017
- “Landscapes for Leisure”Palm Springs Preservation Foundation · Modernism WeekOct 2017
- “Landscapes for Leisure”California Garden & Landscape History Society Annual Conference, Palm SpringsOct 2017
- “The Glamorous Gardens of Tommy Tomson”Palm Springs Modernism WeekFeb 2018
- “Landscapes for Leisure”Palm Springs Modernism WeekFeb 2018
- “The Design of Herbert W. Burns”Palm Springs Preservation Foundation · Lecture, book launch, and toursMar 2018
- “Landscapes for Leisure”Palm Springs Historical Society “Let’s Talk” series · Palm Springs Cultural CenterDec 2018
- “The Architecture of Hugh Michael Kaptur”Palm Springs Modernism WeekFeb 2019
- “The Design of Herbert W. Burns”Palm Springs Modernism WeekFeb 2019
- “An Evening with Hugh Kaptur”Lecture and conversation with Hugh Kaptur and Susan Secoy-Jensen · Palm Springs Art Museum, Annenberg TheaterMar 2019
- “Inside Out: Modern Landscapes and their Buildings”California Preservation Foundation Annual Conference · With Vonn Marie May, Kelly Comras, and Rebecca MacManusMay 2019
- “Documenting for the Historic American Landscape Survey: In-Depth Session with Site Visit to O’Donnell Golf Club”California Preservation Foundation Annual Conference · With Stephen Schafer, Cathy Garrett, and Chris StevensMay 2019
- “The Architecture of Hugh Michael Kaptur”Palm Springs Modernism WeekOct 2019
- “Landscapes for Leisure”California Garden & Landscape History Society · Online lectureSep 2020
- “The Glamorous Gardens of Tommy Tomson”California Garden & Landscape History Society · Online lectureMay 2021
- “The Glamorous Gardens of Tommy Tomson”Historical Society of Palm DesertMar 2022
- “Paul R. Williams in Palm Springs”Preservation Matters symposium, Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board · With Susan Secoy JensenApr 2022
- “Landscape Exhibitionism: How Early Modern Landscape Exhibitions Influenced Eckbo, Royston, & Williams in Palm Springs”Modernism Week · With JC MillerFeb 2023
- “Sunday in Palm Springs — Smoke Tree Ranch and a Restored Eckbo, Royston, & Williams Garden”CGLHS tour with Tracy ConradMar 2023
- “The Design of Herbert W. Burns”Palm Springs Preservation Foundation · Modernism WeekOct 2023
- “Googie in Plain Sight! Armet & Davis’ Sands Hotel in Palm Springs Revitalized”Modernism Week · With Lance O’DonnellFeb 2025
- “Landscapes for Leisure: Modernist Design in the Coachella Valley’s Desert Playground”Modernism WeekFeb 2026
- “Cars to the Curb: The Radical Vision of Baldwin Hills Village”Tour with Holly Kane · 19th International Docomomo ConferenceMar 2026
Curatorial
Exhibitions, juries & planning
- Exhibition curator — “Ralph D. Cornell: Dean of Southern California Landscape Architecture”UCLA Young Research Library · With Kelly Comras; curatorial assistance by Sam Watters and Genie Guerard; installation by Octavio Olvera2014
- Planning committeeCalifornia Preservation Foundation Annual Conference, Palm Springs2019
- Juror — Preservation AwardsLos Angeles Conservancy2017
- Juror — Modernism in America AwardsDocomomo US2024
- Mills Act contract — Village Green Homeowners AssociationHistoric Structures Report and Mills Act contract for the National Historic Landmark community, with Architectural Resources Group and the City of Los Angeles2011
Awards
Honors & awards
- Preservation Design Award, Cultural Resource Studies & ReportsVillage Green Historic Structures Report · California Preservation Foundation2012
- Preservation AwardVillage Green Historic Structures Report · Los Angeles Conservancy2012
- Historic Preservation AwardHindry House Cultural Landscape Report · City of Pasadena Historic Preservation Commission2018
- Preservation Design AwardHindry House Cultural Landscape Report and Landscape Rehabilitation · California Preservation Foundation2018
- Merit AwardHindry House Restoration · American Society of Landscape Architects2018
- Gold Medal, ArchitectureThe Modern Architecture of Hugh Michael Kaptur · Independent Publisher Book Awards2021
- Certificate of RecognitionCity of Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board2022
- Residential Preservation AwardPalm Springs ModCom2022
- Preservation Design AwardVirginia Robinson Gardens HALS Report · California Preservation Foundation2023
- Bronze Medal, HistoryTom O’Donnell: Generous Spirit of Palm Springs · Independent Publisher Book Awards2023
Service
Roles & affiliations
- EditorEden · California Garden & Landscape History Society2017 – present
- Past PresidentCalifornia Garden & Landscape History Society2016 – 2017
- Board MemberCalifornia Garden & Landscape History Society2013 – 2017
- Board MemberPalm Springs Preservation Foundation2016 – present
- Founding Member, Stewardship CouncilThe Cultural Landscape Foundation2012 – present
- Board MemberDocomomo US / SoCal2012 – 2026
- Advisory BoardDocomomo US / SoCal2026 – present
Contact
Get in touch
For inquiries about writing, research, or speaking: