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 on California's built environment, with a particular emphasis on its historic designed landscapes.
He is the editor of Eden: The Journal of the California Garden & Landscape History Society. His books include studies of the Palm Springs designers Herbert W. Burns and Hugh Michael Kaptur, and his work has been recognized with Independent Publisher Book Awards and a California Governor's Historic Preservation Award.
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
- 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 →
Service
Roles & affiliations
- EditorEden · California Garden & Landscape History Society2017 – present
- Board Member & Past PresidentCalifornia 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: