History of Bohemian Club in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 7, 2026

The Bohemian Club, established in 1872, is a private men's club with locations in San Francisco and Sonoma County, California. Initially founded by journalists, artists, and musicians, it expanded to include businessmen, entrepreneurs, university presidents, and military commanders. Its Bohemian Grove retreat is known for hosting influential figures and facilitating behind-the-scenes discussions and deals. Membership includes local and global leaders from various fields like art, music, business, and politics. The club maintains a male-only membership policy.

1915: San Francisco Chronicle Interview

In 1915, Michael Henry de Young, proprietor of the San Francisco Chronicle, provided a description of the formation of the Bohemian Club in an interview.

August 15, 1919: Dedication of bronze relief memorializing Bret Harte

On August 15, 1919, a bronze relief by Jo Mora was dedicated as a memorial to author and poet Bret Harte. The relief shows fifteen characters from books by Harte.

1934: Reinstallation of bronze relief

In 1934, the bronze relief was reinstalled on the current building after the original building was torn down.

1981: Planning Reagan's social security cuts

In 1981, Ronald Reagan's cuts to social security were planned at a Bohemian Club meeting.

1981: Reagan's cut to capital gains tax

In 1981, at the Bohemian Grove, Reagan's cut to capital gains tax was planned.

1983: Reagan's cuts to social security

According to a memo, Reagan's 1983 cuts to social security were planned at a Bohemian Club meeting two years prior in 1981.

1983: Social security cuts

In 1983, social security cuts were planned at the Bohemian Grove.

1999: Stephen Bechtel Sr. and Henry Kissinger at the Bohemian Club

In 1999, a picture was taken of Stephen Bechtel Sr. with Henry Kissinger at the Bohemian Club.

2000: Alex Jones and Jon Ronson infiltrate Bohemian Grove

In 2000, Alex Jones and Jon Ronson famously infiltrated the Bohemian Grove, with Jones reporting about a human sacrifice that Ronson has since stated never happened.

2010: Clarence Thomas accepts gifts for trip to Bohemian Grove

In the late 2010's, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted gifts from Harlan Crow that included a trip to Bohemian Grove.

2023: Bill and Tim Draper attend the Bohemian Club

In 2023, Bill Draper and his son, Tim Draper, were on the attendance list for the Bohemian Club, 42 years after Bill Draper persuaded a Reagan advisor to cut capital gains taxes at the grove. Also in 2023, Pete Coors was mentioned to be a part of the Bohemian Club, along with being a member of the Coors beer family empire.

2023: Edwin Feulner on attendance list

In 2023, Edwin Feulner, co-founder of the Heritage foundation, was on the attendance list.

2023: Bohemian Club attendance list obtained

In 2023, journalists at A More Perfect Union obtained the full Bohemian Club attendance list.

2024: David McCormick elected to the senate

In 2024, David McCormick was elected to the senate for Pennsylvania, with at least 11 members of the Bohemian Club donating to his campaign. After being elected, he backed massive AI data center investment in Pennsylvania.