What it is
- Bohemian Grove is a 2,700-acre private campground in California.
- Owned by the Bohemian Club (founded 1872).
- Hosts an annual midsummer gathering lasting over two weeks.
- Attended by invited members and guests from politics, business, media, and the arts.
- Membership is all-male, with limited guest access.
How it started
- Began in 1878 as a farewell camping trip for Henry “Harry” Edwards.
- First gathering took place in redwoods near what is now Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
- The event became an annual tradition.
- The current site was rented in 1893 and purchased in 1899, then expanded.
Famous members / attendees (examples)
- Herbert Hoover
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Richard Nixon
- J. Robert Oppenheimer
- Ernest Lawrence
- Membership also includes business leaders, artists, and media figures.
Notable historical facts
- A 1942 meeting at the Grove contributed to early planning of the Manhattan Project.
- Eisenhower and Nixon met there in 1950.
- The club evolved from a group of journalists into one including wealthy and influential members.
Traditions and features
- A large owl statue (~30 feet tall) stands at the site and is used during ceremonies.
- The annual “Cremation of Care” ceremony (since 1881) is a theatrical performance symbolizing setting aside worries.
- The motto is “Weaving Spiders Come Not Here”, meaning members are expected to leave business matters aside in group settings.
- The grove contains old-growth redwood trees, some over 1,000 years old.
- The property includes over 100 camps, which function as long-term social groups.
Other verified facts
- The club is private and emphasizes discretion among members.
- Women are not full members, though some were honorary members historically.
- Legal rulings required the club to hire female employees.
- The site is secured by private security, sometimes with law enforcement support during events.
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