Scheduled, December 2^nd at lunch, Free Online | Format: Free online lunchtime talk (Zoom)

California’s early 20th-century expositions showcased bold architecture, artistic innovation, and international influence—leaving an indelible mark on the state’s cities and cultural identity. From the gleaming domes of San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915) to the Spanish Colonial Revival masterpiece of San Diego’s Panama-California Exposition (1915–1916), and the streamlined modernism of the Golden Gate International Exposition (1939–1940), these monumental fairs introduced new architectural forms and ideas that continue to shape California’s landscape today.

This free lunchtime talk brings together leading historians and preservationists for a visual journey through California’s exposition heritage and its ongoing legacy.

Presented by...

• Laura Ackley — The Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915): how architects transformed San Francisco into the “Jewel City” and the fair’s lasting influence on urban identity.
• David Marshall — The Panama-California (1915) and California-Pacific (1935) Expositions: Balboa Park’s architectural evolution, preservation efforts, and the enduring spirit of San Diego’s fairgrounds.
• Anne Schnoebelen — The Golden Gate International Exposition (1939–1940): the visionary design of Treasure Island, WPA-era art, and how audiences today can help protect the fair’s threatened remnants.

Scheduled, Thursday December 4^th at lunch, Free Online

This program explores the evolution of Polynesian Pop and Tiki in California as an imaginative, highly visual, and distinctly mid-century cultural phenomenon. Through the lens of the new publication by co-authors Sven Kirsten and Peter Moruzzi, Palm Springs Tiki, this session will examine the imagery, iconography, and architectural motifs that shaped the movement, as well as the revival of interest and preservation of surviving sites. This open discussion accompanied by images will be moderated by Architect and Historian, Alan Hess to explore the cultural storytelling, visual language, historic context of Tiki’s layered legacy in California pop culture and the built environment.

Presented by...

Alan Hess (Moderator) is an architect and historian known for his scholarship on mid-century modern architecture, Googie design, and commercial vernacular forms in California and the American West. He is the author of numerous books and has been a leading voice in advocating for the preservation of post-war architectural landmarks. Hess has served on local and national preservation boards and has written extensively on the cultural forces that shaped modern American architecture.

Sven Kirsten is a cultural historian and author best known for The Book of Tiki, which played a central role in documenting and reviving interest in mid-century Tiki culture. His work explores the iconography, architecture, and visual mythology of the Tiki movement in America, particularly in California, drawing on extensive photographic, archival, and field research. Kirsten’s writing and scholarship have shaped contemporary understanding of Polynesian Pop and its cultural impact.

Peter Moruzzi graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and later attended the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. In 1999, he founded the Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS ModCom), an architectural preservation group. In addition to being the co-author of Palm Springs Tiki, he has authored Palm Springs Holiday, Palm Springs Paradise, and Havana Before Castro. His research and writing examine desert resort culture and mid-century design history in Southern California, with particular focus on Palm Springs. 

Tuesday, December 9th at lunch, Free Online

This program examines the cultural, historical, and architectural imprint of Armenian heritage in California, presented in three parts. First, Aram Alajajian will introduce the foundations of Armenian architecture and its traditions, and discuss how this legacy informs his design approach today. He will then highlight his firm’s work, including the Armenian American Museum in Glendale. Finally, Paul Halajian will share insight into Armenian communities in Fresno and the Central Valley and present the Armenian Genocide Monument at Fresno State, exploring its conception, symbolism, and cultural significance. Together, the program will reflect on how Armenian identity and memory are expressed through architecture across California.

Presented by...

Paul Halajian is an architect based in Fresno and Principal of Paul Halajian Architects, a firm focused on civic, educational, and cultural design in the Central Valley. He led the design of the Armenian Genocide Monument at Fresno State and has contributed to numerous regional public projects. Paul serves on the Board of Trustees for the California Preservation Foundation and is committed to community-focused design and honoring Armenian heritage in the built environment.

Aram Alajajian is Principal of Alajajian Marcoosi Architects in Glendale, a firm known for civic, educational, and cultural projects across Southern California. He is the architect for the Armenian American Museum & Cultural Center of California, a landmark cultural and educational institution currently under development in Glendale. Aram’s work reflects a thoughtful integration of Armenian cultural identity with contemporary architectural expression and public-serving design.

Tentatively Scheduled, Thursday, December 11^th at lunch, Free Online

Founded in 1911 by Danish-American educators seeking a new “sunny field” far from Midwestern winters, Solvang grew into one of the most distinctive cultural enclaves in California — a place where Danish folk traditions, timber-frame architectural motifs, rural colony planning, and 20th-century tourism intersect.

This panel of speakers from a broad range of backgrounds will look at how Solvang evolved from an immigrant-founded settlement into the celebrated “Danish Capital of America,” and how its buildings, community institutions, and cultural rituals — from half-timbered storefronts to æbleskiver festivals — embody both authentic heritage and the layered storytelling of place-making. The moderated discussion will ask that panel how the city balances preservation, reinvention, and contemporary visitor expectations while honoring its Danish roots.

Tentative speaker focus (flexible):

• Moderator: Amber Long — Architectural historian providing contextual framing and facilitating discussion.
• Kirsten Klitgaard — A Danish perspective on Solvang today: cultural continuity, the experience of being a Danish ambassador in a Danish-inspired town, and how heritage is interpreted for visitors.
• Sandie Mullin, Elverhøj Museum — Solvang’s founding, architectural evolution, museum collections, and the role of community institutions in telling and safeguarding the Danish story.
• Javier Servin (Foo Howser) — Solvang through the lens of contemporary travel media; how visual storytelling, digital platforms, and popular culture shape the public’s understanding of place.

Bid on items to support CPF while winning awesome, architecture- and California-inspired auction items. Special stays and trips, event tickets, books from our book club program, rare prints, and other unique items. Don't miss it! Bidding will open Tuesday, November 24th and ends on Tuesday, December 18th at 8 PM. Keep your eyes peeled for future additions and updates!