A Guide to the Bohemian Grove
What really goes on inside the secluded Bohemian Grove, the site of the ultra-exclusive Bohemian Club’s yearly bacchanalia among the California redwoods? Related: “Bohemian Tragedy,” by Alex Shoumatoff.
by Julian Sancton WEB EXCLUSIVE April 1, 2009
Conspiracy theorists believe the Bohemian Grove’s idyllic grounds, in northern California, are host to right-wing, old-boy machinations about the New World Order. Honorary member Richard Nixon, meanwhile, called it “the most faggy goddamned thing you could ever imagine.” For V.F. contributing editor Alex Shoumatoff, who was arrested for trespassing at last year’s encampment while investigating the club’s forestry practices, the most suspicious activity that takes place in the grove is the alleged logging of old-growth redwood trees. But common to all reports from the two-week-long gathering of the country’s rich and powerful old guard—members have included every Republican president since Coolidge—is an account of profuse outdoor urination. With gin fizzes being poured at seven a.m., so many enlarged prostates, and such majestic natural urinals, who’s surprised? We present to you a guide to the Bohemian Grove, including a map of the premises, highlights of the events, and a list of prominent members and regular guests, from the club’s founding, in 1872, to today.
The last Bohemian Grove encampment took place in July 2008. Here’s an abridged schedule of events from the club’s program. Who knew the Grovers were so soulful?!
To join the Bohemian Club, you must either be invited by several members, or wait patiently for decades. And then there’s the $25,000 initiation fee and the hefty yearly dues. Judging from the roster, which currently numbers about 2,500, it helps to be patrician, Republican, and white. Grovers have included captains of industry, politicians, and the occasional artist to keep true to the club’s, well, bohemian roots. The following men are some of the most well-known attendees, both members and regular guests, of the Bohemian Club encampments past and present.
James A. Baker III | Herbert Hoover |
Read more: “Bohemian Tragedy,” by Alex Shoumatoff.
Members of the ultra-exclusive Bohemian Club—2,500 of America’s richest, most conservative men—are known to urinate freely against the ancient redwoods that cover their 2,700-acre property. Have they been chopping down the trees as well? According to one former member turned whistle-blower, the San Francisco–based society may have logged some of its old-growth forest. Alex Shoumatoff investigates, with a daring sortie into the ceremonial kickoff of the Bohemians’ annual encampment.
- Re: 转:A Guide to the Bohemian Groveposted on 04/12/2009
不要被这个名字迷惑,目前这个club跟波西米亚生活方式一点关系也没有,看其成员名单,现在已经演变成WASP以及一群最保守的右翼社会名流的俱乐部。 1872成立的时候,它的宗旨以及成员都有bohemian的色彩,比如杰克伦敦,马克吐温等文学巨匠。我想他们两位如果地下有知,一定痛恨自己的名字居然跟布什、卡尔肉夫一伙在一起。 - Re: 转:A Guide to the Bohemian Groveposted on 04/12/2009
maya JJ 的意思是不是搞一个Coffeemian Club?:)
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