History of Camp David in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: June 8, 2025

Camp David is a secluded retreat for the U.S. President, situated in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland. It serves as a place for meetings, rest, and high-level negotiations. Technically a military installation (Naval Support Facility Thurmont), it's primarily staffed by the Navy and Marine Corps. Camp David has hosted numerous important events, most notably the Camp David Accords in 1978, where Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin negotiated a peace treaty brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

1935: Construction started

In 1935, construction of Camp David, originally known as Hi-Catoctin, began by the Works Progress Administration as a retreat for federal government agents and their families.

1938: Construction completed

In 1938, the construction of Camp David (then known as Hi-Catoctin) was completed. It was initially built as a retreat for federal government agents and their families.

1942: Conversion to Presidential Retreat

In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt converted Hi-Catoctin into a presidential retreat and renamed it "Shangri-La", after the fictional Himalayan paradise.

May 1943: Roosevelt hosted Churchill

In May 1943, during World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt hosted Winston Churchill at Shangri-La (Camp David).

1953: Camp David Received Its Present Name

In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed Shangri-La to Camp David, in honor of his father and his grandson, both named David.

1954: Golf Facility Designed

Around 1954, President Eisenhower had golf course architect Robert Trent Jones design a practice golf facility at Camp David, including one golf hole and a driving range.

November 22, 1955: Eisenhower held his first cabinet meeting

On November 22, 1955, Dwight Eisenhower held his first cabinet meeting at Camp David. This followed his hospitalization and convalescence after suffering a heart attack in Denver, Colorado on September 24.

September 1959: Eisenhower met with Nikita Khrushchev

In September 1959, Dwight Eisenhower met with Nikita Khrushchev at Camp David for two days of discussions.

September 1978: Camp David Accords Brokered

In September 1978, Jimmy Carter brokered the Camp David Accords at Camp David between Egyptian president Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin.

1984: Reagan hosted Margaret Thatcher

In 1984, Ronald Reagan hosted British prime minister Margaret Thatcher at Camp David.

1992: First Wedding at Camp David

In 1992, George H. W. Bush's daughter, Dorothy Bush Koch, was married at Camp David, marking the first wedding held there.

July 2000: 2000 Camp David Summit

In July 2000, Bill Clinton hosted the 2000 Camp David Summit negotiations between Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat at Camp David.

February 2001: First Meeting with a European Leader

In February 2001, George W. Bush held his first meeting with a European leader, UK prime minister Tony Blair, at Camp David, to discuss missile defense, Iraq, and NATO.

2003: Bush hosted Vladimir Putin and President Musharraf

In 2003, George W. Bush hosted Russian president Vladimir Putin and President Musharraf of Pakistan at Camp David.

June 2006: Bush Hosted Anders Fogh Rasmussen

In June 2006, George W. Bush hosted Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen at Camp David.

2007: Bush Hosted Gordon Brown

In 2007, George W. Bush hosted British prime minister Gordon Brown at Camp David.

July 2, 2011: Civilian Aircraft Intercepted

On July 2, 2011, an F-15 intercepted a civilian aircraft approximately 6 miles from Camp David while President Obama was in residence. The aircraft, out of radio communication, was escorted to Hagerstown, Maryland, without incident.

July 10, 2011: Another Aircraft Intercepted

On July 10, 2011, an F-15 intercepted another small plane near Camp David when President Obama was again in the residence; this was one of three intercepted that weekend.

2012: 38th G8 Summit Hosted

In 2012, Barack Obama chose Camp David to host the 38th G8 summit.

2015: GCC Summit Hosted

In 2015, President Barack Obama hosted the GCC Summit at Camp David.

2018: Republican Party Strategy Session

In 2018, Donald Trump hosted Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan at Camp David while the Republican Party prepared to defend both houses of Congress in the midterm elections.

2019: Planned Taliban Meeting

In 2019, Donald Trump planned to meet with the Taliban at Camp David to negotiate a peace agreement, but the meeting was cancelled after a suicide bombing in Kabul killed US troops.

2020: Cancelled G7 Summit

In 2020, the 46th G7 summit was to be held at Camp David on June 10–12, but was cancelled due to health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

August 2023: U.S.–Japan–Korea Summit

In August 2023, Joe Biden hosted the U.S.–Japan–Korea Summit with Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol at Camp David, resulting in the declaration of the Camp David Principles on trilateral relations between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea.