Where Powerful Men Go to Misbehave: Secrets of the Bohemian Grove Unveiled in Photos

Any good mixer of convivial habits considers he has a right to be called a Bohemian. But that is not a valid claim. There are two elements, at least, that are essential to Bohemianism. The first is devotion or addiction to one or more of the Seven Arts; the other is poverty. Other factors suggest themselves: for instance, I like to think of my Bohemians as young, as radical in their outlook on art and life; as unconventional, and, though this is debatable, as dwellers in a city large enough to have the somewhat cruel atmosphere of all great cities.-George Sterling, Club Member. Ebaumsworld

Grove Stage — an amphitheater with seating for 2,000, used primarily for the Grove Play production, on the last weekend of the midsummer encampment. The stage extends up the hillside, and is also home to the second largest outdoor pipe organ in the world. Ebaumsworld

Camp tipi, Bohemian Grove. historyinphotos

French horn quartet, Bohemian Grove. historyinhotos

Men toasting outside bar Bar Harbor, Bohemian Grove. historyinphotos

Bar in a tent, Bohemian Grove, 1878. historyinphotos

Camp with men seated outside of a tent, Bohemian Grove. historyinphotos

Man in camp leaning against a post, Bohemian Grove. historyinphotos

Nighttime gathering around fire, 1909. historyinphotos

The Bohemians have a downtown clubhouse that is their main base of operations. It is an imposing six-story building only a few blocks from the financial district of downtown San Francisco. ucsc