By John Neiuber | Special to the Courier

Claremont Heritage has announced a full weekend of events to complement its annual home tour on Sunday, October 12. The events are centered around the 2025 Claremont Heritage annual theme, “preserving the recent past.”

The weekend kicks off Friday, October 10 with the “ClareMod bus and walking tour,” with mid-century, pop culture humorist and expert, Charles Phoenix. Performer, author, explorer, and collector, Charles Phoenix celebrates classic and kitschy American life and style. He will lead this three hour bus and walking tour, presented with his indomitable style and wit, that will visit many iconic Claremont buildings. The tour begins at 9:30 a.m. and is sure to be a much-discussed experience for those who attend. Tickets are limited.

Mid-century pop culture humorist and expert Charles Phoenix will lead a 9:30 a.m. Friday, October 10 bus and walking tour of Claremont as part of Claremont Heritage’s Home Tour weekend. Photo/courtesy of Charles Phoenix

Claremont Heritage is pleased to announce a partnership with Sunset Magazine, the presenting sponsor of the home tour and the sponsor of the annual sunset reception. Join Sunset Magazine and Claremont Heritage at the reception, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 10 at the historic M.H. Cowen House, designed by renowned architect Cliff May, longtime contributor to Sunset Magazine and father of the California ranch house. This 1939 hacienda ranch, the only one in Claremont, won the California Preservation Foundation’s 2025 Preservation and Restoration Award. The reception includes a tour of the home, recognition of the homeowners of the Sunday home tour, remarks by Sunset Magazine leadership, entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, and beverages. Tickets are limited.

Sunset Magazine and Claremont Heritage present the Friday, October 10 tour and reception at the Cowen House, designed by the father of the California ranch house, Cliff May. Photo/courtesy of Claremont Heritage

Did you know that there are churches in Claremont designed in the mid-century by noted architects? From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, attendees will join the “places of worship tour” of four Claremont churches designed by mid-century architects Richard Neutra, Edward Durell Stone, Claremont’s own Theodore Criley with Millard Sheets’ art direction, and Culver Heaton. This docent-led tour is presented as part of Docomomo’s National Tour Day. Docomomo is an international nonprofit that has been dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites, and neighborhoods of the modern movement for nearly 25 years.

Claremont United Methodist Church, designed by renowned architect, Richard Neutra, will be on the “places of worship tour” on Saturday, October 11. Photo/courtesy of Claremont Heritage

After the October 11 tour of churches, join Claremont Heritage from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University for a luncheon and presentation by Alan Hess, an architect, historian, author, lecturer and advocate for 20th century architectural preservation. Hess will offer his insights and observations about Claremont in his talk, “Claremont modern.” Hess is the author of 20 books, including 2025’s “The Palm Springs School: Desert Modernism,” the now-definitive book on desert architecture, published by Rizzoli. Tickets are limited.

From 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday October 11, Claremont Heritage presents, “Discovering Foster Rhodes Jackson – the search for organic architecture.” The exhibition and reception will take place at the Ginger Elliott Exhibition and Conference Center at the historic Garner House, the home of Claremont Heritage. Rhodes Jackson trained under Frank Lloyd Wright. The architect designed more than 800 modern structures, including in Claremont and the surrounding area. Claremont Heritage acquired his archives, has cataloged and preserved them, and this exhibition features many items from the collection.

Architect, historian, author, lecturer and advocate for 20th century architectural preservation Alan Hess, gives a 1 to 3 p.m. October 11 luncheon presentation, “Claremont modern,” at CGU as part of Claremont Heritage’s Home Tour weekend. Photo/courtesy of Alan Hess

The 43rd annual Claremont Heritage Home Tour, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, October 12,  will feature seven Claremont homes designed and built during the mid-century that illustrate the importance of “preserving the recent past.” Modern and ranch style homes are featured and include a mid-century masterwork by Jo Paul Rognstad, who later worked in Honolulu, designing 18 skyscrapers that changed the city’s skyline. The home of Charles Phoenix, mid-century pop culture humorist and historian, is also on the tour and will include a display of his vintage automobiles. In conjunction with Claremont Graduate University’s centennial celebration, the home of visionary and author Peter Drucker, whose ideas reshaped management, business, and society, will be on the tour. Another home was meticulously designed with attention to detail by B.H. Anderson, who collaborated with Millard Sheets on the Pomona First Federal building and the Sheets Studio. Also on the tour is a fine example of a modern home designed by the Claremont architects Criley and McDowell.

Bill Anderson, who worked with Millard Sheets to design the Sheets Studio and Pomona First Federal Building in Claremont, designed this must see modern house. Photo/courtesy of Claremont Heritage

Claremont is known for its Village and historic neighborhoods; however, those are only a small portion of the many neighborhoods that make up the city. The vast majority of homes in Claremont were built between 1950 and 1980. Most of these homes are ranch style. And, as a house ages, homeowners often want to update or “modernize” the structure, changing the distinct style that epitomizes the quintessential California ranch that represents the history of the growth of the city, state, and of the American Dream.

That is why Claremont Heritage is celebrating the recent past this year and through its annual home tour. For further information and to purchase tickets for the home tour and weekend events, please visit claremontheritage.org.