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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PA L M DESERT – (72-861 El Paseo)
The building located at 72861 El Paseo is significant as the first Fire Station in the City of Palm Desert.
The building was constructed in 1951 on land donated by Clifford W. Henderson.
Upon its completion in 1951, it was the only building west of Highway 74 and south to where Haystack is
now. The fire station is a one-story structure built in two sections, one on each side of the fire truck
storage area or garage. Mr. Henderson, with the permission of the Architectural Committee for Palm
Desert Corporation was to solicit the services of Mr. Walter White, renowned architect, to design and
submit a lowering of the roof angle, and increase the roof overhang, thus creating a “Ranch Roof” design
which is especially desirable and adaptable to the desert climate. The east wing consisted of a living or
office room area, three bedrooms, one bath, dining room and kitchen. It was considered a residence
because a resident fireman and his family lived in this section during the 1950’s and early 1960’s. The
west wing consisted of an office and bathroom and equipment storage. The cement block building
materials were secured from the County Prison Farm brick yard in Banning and the labor to build the
structure came from both paid and volunteer firefighters.
In the fall of 1983, the new fire station at Palm Desert Town Center (Station 33) was finished, and so the
historic fire station was vacated. In the winter of 1983, Boy Scout Troop 76 moved in and used the
facility up until January, 1987. In January, 1985 the Historical Society of Palm Desert moved in and
shared the facility with Troop 76 until January, 1987.
In June of 1985 the County of Riverside executed a “Quitclaim Deed” for the Fire Station and the
Historical Society of Palm Desert secured ownership.
In January, 1990 at a Board meeting of the Historical Society Trustees, on the recommendation of their
attorney, resolved to deed the fire house over to the City of Palm Desert. This was done with the
understanding that the Society would continue to occupy the building. This transaction was reported to
the public in July, along with plans to renovate the structure by early fall.
In 2002, the Society did a major renovation to the inside of the bay (center section) of the historic fire
house. A glass storefront was installed behind the pull -down door, and the room was set up to exhibit a
major firefighting display.
The building is currently owned by the City of Palm Desert and is leased to the Historical Society of Palm
Desert which maintains their Headquarters and Archival Center.