At the end of World War II, American soldiers returned home and, with the help of the GI Bill, built homes by the millions on the edges of America's cities. These homes were modest in size, but built to house a growing middle-class. El Cerrito's housing was primarily built during this period, from the '40s through the '60s. In fact, 66.52% of the city's housing was built during this era.

The designs of some of California's most celebrated architects, including Richard Neutra, Roger Lee, Henry Hill, David Beverly Thorne, Walter Ratcliff, John Hudson Thomas and Donald Olsen, are represented in El Cerrito, as well as lesser recognized architects influenced by modern designs of the times.

Mid-Century modern is an architectural, interior, product and graphic design that generally describes mid-20th century developments—from roughly 1933 to 1965 (for a succinct description of mid century modern see http://is.gd/Vzw52S).

While the city of Cerrito has its share of what Malvina Reynolds (and soon after Pete Seeger) satirized as "little boxes on the hillside", this site seeks (however modestly) to capture and celebrate the city's quality, modernist gems and provide a space for those who love mid century modern design. And on occasion we'll include modernism from surrounding East Bay communities.