America's Great Mid-Century Modern & Modernist Homes
This checklist covers 17 modernist houses — also called mid-century modern houses or architectural houses, grouped into 4 sections below, with location and details for every entry.
The American modernist house — from Schindler and Neutra's Los Angeles to the Case Study Houses to Mies's Farnsworth House — is one of architecture's great chapters. This passport tracks the modernist landmark homes open as house museums, plus a handful still in private hands but visible from public roads.
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Case Study House #8 (Eames House) | Pacific Palisades, CA | Charles + Ray Eames · 1949 |
| Case Study House #22 (Stahl House) | Los Angeles, CA | Pierre Koenig · 1959 · iconic Shulman photo |
| Schindler House | West Hollywood, CA | Rudolph Schindler · 1922 · LA |
| Neutra VDL Studio and Residences | Silver Lake, CA | Richard Neutra's own home · LA |
| Kaufmann House (Palm Springs) | Palm Springs, CA | Richard Neutra · 1946 |
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Fallingwater | Mill Run, PA | FLW · 1935 · PA · UNESCO |
| Taliesin West | Scottsdale, AZ | FLW · 1937 · Scottsdale, AZ |
| Hollyhock House | Los Angeles, CA | FLW · 1921 · Los Angeles |
| Marin County Civic Center | San Rafael, CA | FLW · 1962 |
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Farnsworth House | Plano, IL | Mies van der Rohe · 1951 |
| Glass House (Philip Johnson) | New Canaan, CT | Philip Johnson · 1949 |
| Gropius House | Lincoln, MA | Walter Gropius · 1938 |
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Sunnylands (Annenberg Estate) | Rancho Mirage, CA | A. Quincy Jones · 1966 · Rancho Mirage |
| Vanna Venturi House | Chestnut Hill, PA | Robert Venturi · 1964 · PA · postmodern landmark |
| Sea Ranch Lodge & Chapel | Sea Ranch, CA | Sea Ranch · 1965 · Lawrence Halprin |
| Sarasota School Houses | Sarasota, FL | Paul Rudolph + others |
| Edris House (Palm Springs Modernism Week) | Palm Springs, CA | E. Stewart Williams · 1954 |
Turn this list into a keepsake. The Triptyka Modernist Houses Passport is a printable PDF with a curated checklist, a detail page for each stop, suggested routes, and achievement badges to earn.
Get the Printable Passport — $9.99 on Etsy →Instant download — no shipping, no customs, no duty. Works anywhere in the world.
Book Ahead: Peak-season slots and timed entries sell out 2-4 weeks in advance at flagship sites. Reserve before traveling. Early Morning: Arrive at opening time. Light is best, crowds haven't arrived, and parking is empty. Palm Springs Modernism Week: Annual February event — 11 days, hundreds of home tours, lectures, films, parties. Books out 6+ months ahead. Fallingwater Tickets: Sell out for summer weekends 30+ days ahead. In-depth tour ($80) is the must-do.
The headline stops on this checklist are Case Study House #8 (Pacific Palisades, CA), Case Study House #22 (Los Angeles, CA) and Schindler House (West Hollywood, CA). In total it covers 17 modernist houses, grouped into 4 sections so you can plan a trip around several at once rather than chasing them one at a time.
Yes. The Triptyka Modernist Houses Passport is an instant printable PDF — a curated checklist grouped by region, a detail page for each stop, suggested routes, and achievement badges to earn.
It depends on the site and the season. Many are best in spring or fall, and hours change through the year — always confirm opening times and admission before you go.
A printable modernist houses passport makes it easy — check off each one as you visit, log the date and your notes, and watch your progress add up.