The Bauhaus was among the most progressive art schools in Europe in the first half of the 20th century. While it existed for only a brief period of time, from 1919 to 1933, its influence on international art, architecture, and design, as well as on educational theory and practice, is unparalleled. A key figure in the history of the school was Herbert Bayer, a Bauhaus master who ultimately spent nearly 30 years transforming Aspen, the once neglected silver mining town, into a world-renowned destination. The Bauhaus legacy lives on through Bayer's designs for the Aspen Institute, reflecting his all encompassing vision of a total work of art.