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List of gentlemen's clubs in the United States

The following is a list of notable traditional gentlemen's clubs in the United States. For former gentlemen's clubs in the United States that are now defunct, see List of defunct gentlemen's clubs in the United States.

Historically, these clubs were exclusively for men, but most though not all now admit women.

On exclusivity and assimilation into the upper class

Christopher Doob explains in his book Social Inequality and Social Stratification in U.S. Society:

E. Digby Baltzell, sociologist of the WASP establishment, explains in his book Philadelphia Gentlemen: The Making of a National Upper Class:

History

The traditional gentlemen's club originated in London (in particular the St James's area) in the 18th century as a successor to coffeehouses. These clubs also continue to operate in the United States. The five oldest existing American clubs are the South River Club in South River, Maryland (c.1690/1700), the Schuylkill Fishing Company in Andalusia, Pennsylvania (1732), the Old Colony Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts (1769), the Philadelphia Club in Philadelphia (1834), and the Union Club of the City of New York in New York City (1836). The Boston Club, of New Orleans, named after the card game and not the city, is the oldest southern club, founded in 1841. The five oldest existing clubs west of the Mississippi River are the Pacific Club in Honolulu (1851), the Pacific-Union Club (1852), Olympic Club (1860), and Concordia-Argonaut Club (1864), all in San Francisco, and the Arlington Club in Portland, Oregon (1867).

Present day

While most major American cities today have at least one gentlemen's club, they are most prevalent in older cities, especially those on the East Coast. As detailed below, only thirteen American cities have five or more such clubs: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Also as detailed below, New York City contains more than any other American city, including the Yale Club of New York City, the largest traditional gentlemen's club in the world. Throughout the country, though, many clubs have reciprocal relationships with the older clubs in London, with each other, and with other gentlemen's clubs around the world.

A few American gentlemen's clubs maintain separate "city" and "country" clubhouses, essentially functioning as both a traditional gentlemen's club in one location and a country club in another: the Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee, the New York Athletic Club in New York City, the Union League of Philadelphia, the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, and the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Similarly, the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles functions as a traditional gentlemen's club in one location and a beach club in another.

Because the term "gentlemen's club" is commonly used in the United States to refer euphemistically to strip clubs, traditional gentlemen's clubs often are referred to as "men's clubs" or "city clubs" (as opposed to country clubs) or simply as "private social clubs" or just "private clubs". For other meanings and nuances of the word "club", see club.

Clubs currently operating

Alabama

Alaska

  • Anchorage
  • The Petroleum Club of Anchorage (1958)

Arizona

  • Phoenix
  • The University Club of Phoenix (1965)
  • Tempe
  • The University Club of Arizona State University (1989)
  • Tucson
  • The Mountain Oyster Club (1948)

California

  • San Jose
  • The Metropolitan University Club (1936–1990), created from merger of previous Metropolitan Social & Athletic Club (1936) and University Club of San Jose (1957), insolvent
  • The Sainte Claire Club (1888)
  • The Silicon Valley Athletic Club (1981), until 2012 called the San Jose Athletic Club
  • Santa Barbara
  • The Faculty Club (1963)
  • The Santa Barbara Club (1892)
  • The University Club of Santa Barbara (1923)
  • Stockton
  • The Yosemite Club (1888–2010), insolvent

Colorado

  • Colorado Springs
  • The El Paso Club (1877)
  • Denver
  • The Cactus Club (1911)
  • The Denver Athletic Club (1884)
  • The Denver Club (1880–1995), Denver's oldest club, insolvent; had contained two singles and one doubles squash courts
  • The Denver Petroleum Club (1948)
  • The Denver Press Club (1877), the oldest existing press club in the United States
  • The University Club of Denver (1891)

Connecticut

  • New London
  • The Thames Club (1869)
  • Waterbury
  • The Waterbury Club (1881–2009), insolvent

Delaware

  • Wilmington
  • The Wilmington Club (1855)
  • The University Club of Wilmington (1924–1958), merged with the Wilmington Whist Club to become the University and Whist Club
  • The University and Whist Club (1891)

District of Columbia

Florida

  • Jacksonville
  • The River Club of Jacksonville (1954)
  • Miami
  • The Bankers Club (1972–2014),
  • The Brickell Club (1988–1995), insolvent
  • The City Club (1984–1994), merged with the Miami Club to become the Miami City Club
  • The Miami City Club (1994–2011), insolvent
  • The Miami Club (1921–1994), merged with the City Club to become the Miami City Club
  • The Standard Club of Greater Miami (1961–1990), insolvent
  • The University Club of Miami(1954–1995), insolvent
  • Naples
  • The Collier Athletic Club (1985–2010), insolvent
  • Orlando
  • The University Club of Orlando (1926)
  • The Citrus Club (1971)
  • North Palm Beach
  • The City Club of the Palm Beaches (1990–2010), insolvent
  • Sarasota
  • The University Club of Sarasota (1969–2009), insolvent
  • Surfside
  • The Surf Club (1930)
  • Tallahassee
  • The Governor's Club (1982)
  • Tampa
  • The Tampa Club (1982)
  • The University Club of Tampa (1946)

Georgia

  • Augusta
  • The Pinnacle Club (1967)
  • Macon
  • The City Club of Macon (1992–2008), insolvent
  • The Side Porch Lounge of Stanislaus (2005)
  • Savannah
  • The Chatham Club (1968)
  • The Oglethorpe Club (1870)

Hawaii

  • Honolulu
  • The Commercial Club (1906–1963), insolvent
  • The Pacific Club (1851)
  • The University Club of Honolulu (1905–1930), merged into the Pacific Club
  • Outrigger Canoe Club (1908)

Idaho

  • Boise
  • The Arid Club (1890)

Illinois

  • Decatur
  • The Decatur Club (1883)
  • Moline
  • The Moline Commercial Club (1907–1933), insolvent
  • Oakbrook Terrace
  • The DuPage Club (1984)
  • Peoria
  • The Creve Coeur Club (1894)
  • Rockford
  • The University Club of Rockford (1911)
  • Springfield
  • The Sangamo Club (1890–2023), insolvent
  • Wilmette
  • The Michigan Shores Club (1904), until 1943 called the Shawnee Club

Indiana

  • Bloomington
  • The University Club of Indiana University (1958)
  • Evansville
  • The Evansville Petroleum Club (1948–2006), insolvent
  • Fort Wayne
  • The Summit Club (c.1967–2008), insolvent
  • Indianapolis
  • The Antelope Club (1947)
  • The Columbia Club (1889)
  • The Indianapolis Athletic Club (1920–2004), insolvent
  • The Indianapolis Press Club (1934–2004), insolvent, but still operates a charitable foundation
  • IUPUI University Club (1988)
  • The University Club of Indianapolis (1893)
  • The Marion Club (1888–1928), insolvent and sold clubhouse
  • New Albany
  • The Calumet Club (1919–1932), ceased existence but held reunions up until 1975
  • South Bend
  • The Summit Club (1967–2012), insolvent

Iowa

  • Des Moines
  • The Des Moines Club (1909–2002), merged with the Embassy Club to become the Des Moines Embassy Club
  • The Des Moines Embassy Club (1909), formed in 2002 from the merger of the Embassy Club and Des Moines Club
  • The Embassy Club (1946–2002), merged with the Des Moines Club to become the Des Moines Embassy Club
  • Iowa City
  • The University Club of Iowa City (1917–2018)

Kansas

Kentucky

  • Owensboro
  • The Campbell Club (1959) – Permanently closed on December 21, 2018

Louisiana

  • Baton Rouge
  • The Camelot Club (1967–2016) The Camelot Club is now defunct.
  • The City Club (1957)
  • Shreveport
  • The Cambridge Club (1982–2009), insolvent
  • The Petroleum Club of Shreveport (1948)
  • The Shreveport Club (1946)
  • The University Club of Shreveport (1979–2011), insolvent

Maine

Maryland

  • Annapolis
  • The Annapolitan Club
  • Baltimore
  • The Center Club (1962)
  • The Engineers Club (1905)
  • The Johns Hopkins Club (1899)
  • The Maryland Club (1857)
  • The 14 West Hamilton Street Club (1925)
  • The Hamilton Street Club
  • The Mt. Vernon Club
  • The Woman's Club of Roland Park

Massachusetts

Michigan

  • East Lansing
  • The University Club of Michigan State University (1962)
  • Grand Rapids
  • The Peninsular Club (1881–2008), insolvent
  • The Press Club (1953–2004), merged into the University Club of Grand Rapids
  • The University Club of Grand Rapids (1923)
  • Iron Mountain
  • The Chippewa Club (1945)
  • Kalamazoo
  • The Beacon Club (1947)
  • The Park Club of Kalamazoo(1904)
  • Saginaw
  • The Saginaw Club (1889)
  • Tecumseh
  • The Tecumseh Club (1863)

Minnesota

  • Minneapolis
  • The Campus Club (1911)
  • The Minneapolis Athletic Club (1915–1998), insolvent
  • The Minneapolis Club (1883)
  • Saint Paul
  • The Minnesota Club (1910–2000), insolvent
  • The St. Paul Athletic Club (1917–1991), insolvent
  • The University Club of Saint Paul (1912)

Mississippi

Missouri

  • Clayton
  • The Saint Louis Club (1961)
  • The University Club of St. Louis (1872–2007), insolvent
  • The Whittemore House Club (1969)
  • Columbia
  • The University Club of Missouri University (1895)
  • Kansas City
  • The Kansas City Athletic Club (1887–1997), moved to Kansas City, Kansas
  • The Kansas City Club (1882–2015), moved and merged into the University Club at the latter's premises; the merged club adopted the Kansas City Club name (2001); insolvent (2015)
  • The Progress Club (1881–1928), moved and became the Oakwood Country Club
  • The River Club (1948)
  • The University Club of Kansas City (1901–2001), remaining at the same premises, merged with, and adopted the name of, the Kansas City Club
  • Springfield
  • The Tower Club (1987–2017), closed in early 2017 and reopened as a public venue
  • St. Joseph
  • The Benton Club (1887)

Montana

  • Billings
  • The Billings Petroleum Club (1954)
  • Butte
  • The Silver Bow Club (1906–1930), insolvent

Nebraska

  • Omaha
  • The Omaha Press Club (1955)

New Hampshire

  • Portsmouth
  • The One Hundred Club (2003)
  • The Warwick Club (1892)

New Jersey

  • Trenton
  • The Trenton Club (1884–2013), insolvent

New Mexico

  • Albuquerque
  • The Albuquerque Petroleum Club (1956–2007), insolvent
  • The Albuquerque Press Club (1965)

New York

North Carolina

  • Charlotte
  • The Charlotte Athletic Club (1968–1991), merged into the Tower Club
  • The Charlotte City Club (1947)
  • The Tower Club (1984–2004), merged into the Charlotte City Club
  • Durham
  • The University Club of North Carolina (1987)
  • Gastonia
  • The City Club of Gastonia (1985–2012), insolvent
  • Greensboro
  • The Greensboro City Club (1971–2005), insolvent
  • Hickory
  • The Hickory Sportsman's Club (1985–2019), insolvent
  • High Point
  • The String and Splinter Club (1957)
  • Raleigh
  • The Capital City Club (1979–2009), merged with the Cardinal Club to become the Downtown Clubs of Raleigh
  • The Cardinal Club (1979–2009), merged with the Capital City Club to become the Downtown Clubs of Raleigh
  • The Downtown Clubs of Raleigh (1979)
  • Wilmington
  • The Cape Fear Club (1866)
  • The City Club at de Rosset (1998)
  • Winston-Salem
  • The Piedmont Club (1986–2017), insolvent
  • The Twin City Club (1885–2010), insolvent

Ohio

  • Cleveland
  • The Cleveland Athletic Club (1908–2007), insolvent
  • The Cleveland Club (1872–1939), insolvent amidst the Great Depression
  • The Hermit Club (1904)
  • The Rowfant Club (1892)
  • The Shoreby Club (1993)
  • The Tavern Club (1892)
  • The Union Club (1872)
  • The University Club of Cleveland (1898–2002), insolvent
  • Massillon
  • The Massillon Club (1917–2011), insolvent
  • Toledo
  • The Toledo Club (1889)
  • Youngstown
  • The Youngstown Club (1902–2012), insolvent

Oklahoma

  • Edmond
  • The Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City (1956)
  • Norman
  • The University Club of the University of Oklahoma (1925)
  • Oklahoma City
  • The Beacon Club (1942–2017), insolvent
  • The Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City (1956)
  • Tulsa
  • The Summit (1967)
  • The Tulsa Petroleum Club (1950–2011), insolvent
  • The Tulsa Press Club (1906)
  • Tulsa Club Hotel (1927), originally the Tulsa Club

Oregon

Pennsylvania

  • Wilkes-Barre
  • The Westmoreland Club (1873)
  • Wilkinsburg
  • The Pennwood Club (1904–1916)
  • Williamsport
  • The Ross Club (1890). To the best of my knowledge the Ross Club is now defunct. The building was acquired by the First Community Foundation of PA
  • York
  • The Lafayette Club (1898–2012), insolvent

Rhode Island

  • Pawtucket
  • The To Kalon Club (1867–2010), insolvent
  • Providence
  • The Hope Club (1875)
  • The Turk's Head Club (defunct)
  • The University Club of Providence (1899)

South Carolina

Tennessee

  • Chattanooga
  • The Mountain City Club (1889)
  • The Walden Club (1975)
  • Knoxville
  • The Claus Von Bulow Club (1984–86)
  • The Bourbon Club (2019–present)
  • Memphis
  • The Racquet Club of Memphis (1957)
  • The Rex Club (1861–1942), moved and became the Ridgeway Country Club
  • The Summit Club (1972–2003), insolvent
  • The Tennessee Club (1875–1987), insolvent
  • The University Club of Memphis (1907)
  • Nashville
  • The Nashville City Club (1957)
  • The University Club of Nashville (1962–2018)

Texas

  • Abilene
  • The Petroleum Club of Abilene (1950–2000), insolvent
  • Amarillo
  • The Amarillo Club (1947)
  • Austin
  • The Austin Club (1949)
  • The Campus Club (1972)
  • The University Club
  • The Headliner's Club of Austin (1945)
  • Beaumont
  • The Beaumont Club (1921)
  • Corpus Christi
  • The Corpus Christi Town Club (1952–2015), declared bankruptcy and closed.
  • Dallas
  • The City Club (1918)
  • The Dallas Petroleum Club (1934)
  • The Faculty Club of Southern Methodist University (1921)
  • The Park City Club (1984)
  • Salesmanship Club of Dallas (1920)
  • El Paso
  • The El Paso Club (1963)
  • Fort Worth
  • The City Club of Fort Worth (1984)
  • The Fort Worth Club (1885), named the Commercial Club until 1906
  • The Petroleum Club of Fort Worth (1953)
  • Longview
  • The Summit Club (1980)
  • Lubbock
  • The Lubbock Club (1951–2010), insolvent
  • Midland
  • The Petroleum Club of Midland (1947)
  • San Antonio
  • The Argyle Club (1955)
  • Club Giraud (1983)
  • The Petroleum Club of San Antonio (1980)
  • The San Antonio Club (1945–2005), insolvent
  • The St. Anthony Club (1956–1993), insolvent
  • Wichita Falls
  • The Wichita Club (1918–2010), insolvent

Utah

Virginia

  • Charlottesville
  • Red-land Club (1905)
  • The Colonnade Club (1907)
  • Norfolk
  • The Harbor Club (1968–2007), insolvent
  • The Virginia Club (1873)
  • Richmond
  • The 2300 Club (1964–2017)
  • The Bull and Bear Club (1966–2015)
  • The Commonwealth Club (1890)
  • The Downtown Club (1953–2006), insolvent
  • Roanoke
  • The Shenandoah Club (1893) is the oldest, continuously operating private club in Virginia.
  • Virginia Beach
  • The Town Center City Club (2003)
  • Warrenton
  • The Fauquier Club (1902)

Washington

Wisconsin

  • La Crosse
  • The La Crosse Club (1882)
  • Madison
  • The Madison Club (1909)
  • The University Club of the University of Wisconsin (1906)

Closed clubs

Alabama

  • Birmingham
  • The Birmingham Athletic Club (1886–1926)
  • The Birmingham Athletic Club (1999–2009)
  • The Southern Club (1883–1931)
  • Mobile
  • The Bienville Club (1967–2013)
  • The International Trade Club (1966–2009)

Arizona

  • Phoenix
  • The Arizona Club (1894–2009)

Arkansas

  • Little Rock
  • The Little Rock Club (1969–2020)

California

  • Fresno
  • The Downtown Club (1963–2013)
  • Los Angeles
  • The Regency Club (1981–2011)
  • The University Club of Los Angeles (1898–1992)

Kentucky

  • Covington
  • The Metropolitan Club (1991–2025)

Nebraska

  • Lincoln
  • The Nebraska Club (1954–2020)
  • The University Club of Lincoln (1923–1999), members joined Nebraska Club

New Jersey

  • Newark
  • The 744 Club (1958–1991)
  • The Downtown Club (1914–1983)
  • The Essex Club (1876–1992)
  • The Newark Athletic Club (1850–1965)

New York

Poughkeespie

Pennsylvania

  • Bethlehem
  • The Bethlehem Club (1909–2007)
  • Philadelphia
  • The Down Town Club (1897–1995), reopened as public event space
  • The Locust Club (1926–1999)
  • The Midday Club (1929–1978)
  • The Poor Richard Club (1925–1980)
  • The Princeton Club (1868–1979)
  • The Vesper Club (1901–2012), lost clubhouse but briefly continued to exist as an "inner club" of the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, but then was evicted from Racquet Club when refused to obey a new, clubwide smoking ban

Vermont

  • Burlington
  • The Ethan Allen Club (1857–2010)

Wyoming

  • Casper
  • The Casper Petroleum Club (1949–2016)

See also

Further reading

Notes