Near the heart of downtown Palm Springs, California - where the desert sun meets the San Jacinto Mountains - stands the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and The Spa at Séc-he. Dedicated to the history and culture of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the museum features a nearly 10,000-square-foot permanent gallery that is divided into five exhibition areas, each offering a unique piece of the Agua Caliente story.

Honoring Heritage Through Design
For centuries, the Agua Caliente people have lived in harmony with the desert landscape, finding home and refuge in its canyons, palms, and healing waters. The vision for the Cultural Plaza was to create a place that educates, inspires, and fosters reflection - a space that conveys the tribe's heritage through both landscape and architecture.

Sotelo Landscape Architects - led by principal Angelina Sotelo, PLA - developed an overarching vision for the site. Sotelo's approach wove the tribe's heritage into every design element, from basket weaving motifs etched into the plaza to an immersive canyon walk and spa grottos that evoke the sacred Indian Canyons. Project manager and landscape designer Jonathan Villarreal supported this vision through a thoughtful approach to planting and detail, shaping an authentic and immersive landscape experience that reflects the spirit of
the canyons.

 
The team worked with tribal representatives, architects, and civil engineers, ensuring that every element respected cultural traditions, site constraints, and technical requirements. Extreme desert conditions necessitated careful material selection and plant strategies to ensure longevity and aesthetic integrity.

The Design Process: Inspiration and Research
The design team undertook multiple visits to the Indian Canyons, capturing photographs, studying native plant communities, and observing the interplay of light, water, and topography. Research extended into the tribe's history, folklore, spiritual beliefs, and art forms, particularly their basket weaving traditions, which informed the main plaza's paving pattern.

The Canyon Walk Experience
The descending walkway between the museum and spa is one of the most compelling elements of the site. Flanked by stone-clad walls and native vegetation, this pathway evokes the rhythms of the Indian Canyons. A meandering water feature mimics the streams of Murray Canyon, leading visitors to a sculptural recreation of the Three Sisters Falls. Along the trail sits a replica of ancient Agua Caliente shelters, known as "kish." Constructed in the style of traditional Cahuilla dwellings - using materials such as mesquite poles and palm fronds - the structure helps visitors imagine how the Agua Caliente people lived in the canyon environment. Strategically placed seating and open areas along the walkway allow visitors to stop and observe the environment at different points.

The Main Plaza
The main plaza is inspired by the tribe's celebrated basket weaving patterns, an art form that embodies their legacy. These intricate designs are etched into the hardscape, weaving a story of tradition and craftsmanship into the heart of the space. Embracing this plaza are towering California Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera), native to the iconic Indian Canyons. The trees hold deep significance to the tribe as monuments imbued with history and culture. Adding to the immersive experience, the plaza contains a water feature that evokes the sacred waterfall at Tahquitz Falls, providing a dynamic focal point that draws visitors through sight and sound.

The Spa at Séc-he: Tranquility in the Desert
The Spa at Séc-he is built around the sacred hot mineral spring that gave the Agua Caliente people their name. In the Cahuilla language, Séc-he means "the sound of boiling water." The spring remains the lifeblood of the site, both physically and symbolically, connecting visitors to the source that has sustained the tribe for generations. The spa features multiple pools and outdoor relaxation areas framed by boulders, native palms, and desert plantings, recreating the natural drama of the canyon landscape. One of the pools offers a beach-style entry for a leisurely, immersive experience, while another features a grotto and waterfall reminiscent of hidden canyon springs.

Planting Design and Sustainability
In Cahuilla tradition, the fan palm oases were sacred places and sources of water, food, and shelter - where life gathered in the desert. The Cahuilla sang of these canyons and springs as part of the world that Mukat, the creator, brought into being.

The planting design welcomes visitors with a vibrant palette of colorful xerophytic species (capable of surviving in conditions with little water) that were chosen for their resilience and striking visual appeal. These lively compositions draw people into the space, gradually giving way to a native plant palette along the oasis trail. Here, native Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), desert grasses, and other indigenous species evoke the quiet, natural beauty of the Indian Canyons. Boulders and gentle mounding extend the natural forms of the desert throughout the landscape, while efficient irrigation sustains the landscape through the heat of summer. Plant groupings were carefully considered to create an intuitive flow through the site while highlighting both seasonal color and native authenticity. As night falls, subtle uplighting reveals the silhouettes of palms and stone, transforming the site into a serene, glowing canyon experience.

Outcome and Legacy
The Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza and The Spa at Séc-he now stand as a living tribute to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, blending education, recreation, and reflection. Every element - from plaza patterns to cascading water and carefully composed plantings - tells a story of heritage, resilience, and renewal. In recognition of its cultural and design significance, the plaza was named one of the World's Greatest Places in 2024 by TIME Magazine. The plaza now serves as a landmark destination, providing visitors with meaningful insight into the history, culture, and enduring connection of the Agua Caliente people to their land.