The ranch house became an integral part of the vocabulary of the U.S. housing market after World War II, when the demand for a single-family home reached record levels.

Today, there is a resurgence of interest in this modernistic, uniquely American architectural creation and a new generation of homebuyers is discovering its allure. Mary van Balgooy, a leading authority on the ranch house and biographer of influential architect and ranch house pioneer Cliff May, discusses the legendary builder, the ranch home’s influences and features, and the race to preserve it.

The event—co-sponsored by the Johnson County Museum Foundation and the Barton P. and Mary D. Cohen Charitable Trust—coincides with the museum’s exhibit What Is Modernism? on display through November 21, 2015.