Palm Springs, CA

A colorful piece of pop culture history is now on display in downtown Palm Springs.

Beginning Wednesday, January 7, 2026, a special PEZ exhibit has opened inside the display cabinets at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library. The exhibit will be on view for approximately six weeks and is free to the public during regular library hours.

The display features a curated collection of PEZ dispensers owned by Don Yager, a part-time Palm Springs resident and avid collector who has been building his collection for about ten years. The exhibit showcases the evolution of PEZ from its origins to its status as a beloved collectible.

PEZ originated in Austria in 1927 as a peppermint breath mint designed for adults and marketed as an anti-smoking alternative. Early dispensers resembled cigarette lighters. In the 1950s, the brand was reintroduced in the United States with fruit-flavored candy and whimsical character dispensers. One of the first licensed characters was Popeye, helping launch PEZ into widespread popularity among children and collectors alike.

Located at 100 S. Palm Canyon Drive, the downtown library regularly hosts rotating exhibits that highlight a wide range of topics, from local military heroes to celebrated LGBTQ+ icons, authors, and artists.

The Welwood Murray Memorial Library is a branch of the Palm Springs Public Library, which is currently operating out of the Rimrock Plaza Shopping Center at 4721 E. Palm Canyon Drive, at the corner of Gene Autry Trail and East Palm Canyon Drive, while renovations are underway.

The PEZ display is open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours on Thursdays until 8 p.m.

For more information, residents can call 760-322-READ (7323) or visit pslibrary.org.