Coachella Valley History Museum Celebrates 100 Years of the Historic Smiley-Tyler Adobe House with a Season of Community Events

INDIO — In 1926, Dr. Harry Smiley, the first doctor to set up a permanent practice in Indio, and his wife, Nell, built an adobe home on Miles Avenue. One hundred years later, that house stands as the centerpiece of the Coachella Valley History Museum’s campus, and this fall the museum is inviting the whole community to celebrate its centennial.

From October 3 through November 16, the museum will host four events on its campus, each created to honor the Smiley-Tyler House and the century of Coachella Valley history it has witnessed. Together they offer something for everyone: an elegant adults-only evening, a free afternoon for families, a free talk on the home’s history, and a hands-on workshop inspired by Mrs. Smiley’s first days in her new home.

“The Smiley-Tyler House is more than a historical building,” said Gloria Franz, Second Vice President of the museum’s Board of Trustees. “It is a tangible connection to the people and the stories that helped shape the Coachella Valley. Reaching this milestone gave us an opportunity, not only to honor its history, but to invite the community to be a part of that story. We wanted to celebrate to bring people together because preserving our history is most meaningful when it is shared.”

Smiley’s Speakeasy: Saturday, October 3, 7:30 PM–Midnight

The celebration opens with an evening that takes guests back to the year the house was built. At Smiley’s Speakeasy, guests slip through an unmarked door and into 1926 for a night of jazz, gin, and mischief at the Smiley-Tyler House. General admission is $85, and museum members pay $75. Admission includes a glass of bubbly and free parking. This is a 21-and-over event. Period attire is encouraged, so guests are invited to dress to the nines in pearls, pinstripes, feathers, and fedoras. Tickets are available at cvhm.org/smileys-speakeasy.

Historic 1926 Smiley-Tyler House Centennial Fair: Sunday, October 4, 1:00–4:00 PM

The next afternoon, the museum and Desert Recreation District present a free, family-friendly fair celebrating the house with old-fashioned games, food, entertainment, and living history for
all ages. At 1:30 PM, Indio Mayor Elaine Holmes will read a proclamation from the City of Indio commemorating the centennial anniversary of the Smiley-Tyler House. Fairgoers can also view a special art exhibit by the Desert Plein Air Association featuring paintings of the adobe house created by its artists. Admission to the Centennial Fair is free.

The Medjool Sessions: “Smiley-Tyler House, A Century of History” — Saturday, October 10, 10:00 AM–Noon

The museum’s new monthly speaker series, The Medjool Sessions, launches with a talk devoted to the centennial anniversary of the Smiley-Tyler Adobe House. Local historian and museum board trustee Maureen Boren will trace the home’s story, from Dr. Harry and Nell Smiley’s vision in 1926 to its preservation as the heart of the museum, and the people and
events that shaped it along the way. The Medjool Sessions series spotlights local voices sharing the stories, art, and heritage of the greater Palm Springs area, with featured speakers and topics scheduled monthly through May 2027. Doors open at 10:00 AM in the museum’s Medjool Auditorium.

The event is free and open to the public. Details are at http://cvhm.org/blog-posts/the-medjool-sessions.

Community Flower Arrangement Workshop — Monday, November 16; 6:00–8:00 PM

The centennial commemorations continue into November with a hands-on workshop that imagines how Mrs. Smiley might have brightened her new “mansion” in 1926. Led by local artist
Nicole Trigg of Botanical Verbiage, participants will build their own floral arrangement using native plants that Nell Smiley could have grown or gathered in Indio at the time, and take it
home to enjoy. The workshop takes place in the Medjool Auditorium. The fee is $35, or $25 for museum members.

Advance registration and payment are required and can be completed online at http://cvhm.org/blog-posts/floral-arrangement.

About Coachella Valley History Museum

Coachella Valley History Museum embraces a responsibility to preserve, interpret, and share the artifacts that create a dialogue about the evolving history of the Coachella Valley. The
museum’s campus boasts a rich collection of exhibits, stunning gardens, and private event spaces for the public to enjoy. The museum is located at 82616 Miles Avenue, Indio, CA 92201.
Museum hours from September through May are Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sundays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

For more information, visithttp://cvhm.org, call 760.342.6651, or email info@cvhm.org.

Lead photo: Smiley’s first days in her new home.

Photos by Credit: Coco McKown