List of gentlemen's clubs in the United States

The following is a list of notable traditional gentlemen's clubs in the United States, including those that are now defunct. 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: "The most exclusive social clubs are in the oldest cities – Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. Others, which are well respected, have developed in such major cities as Pittsburgh, Chicago, and San Francisco. The most exclusive social clubs are two in New York City – the Links and the Knickerbocker (Allen 1987, 25). Personal wealth has never been the sole basis for attaining membership in exclusive clubs. The individual and family must meet the admissions committee's standards for values and behavior. Old money prevails over new money as the Rockefeller family experience suggests. John D. Rockefeller, the family founder and the nation's first billionaire, joined the Union League Club, a fairly respectable but not top-level club; John D. Rockefeller, Jr., belonged to the University Club, a step up from his father; and finally his son John D. Rockefeller, III, reached the pinnacle with his acceptance into the Knickerbocker Club (Baltzell 1989, 340)."

E. Digby Baltzell, sociologist of the WASP establishment, explains in his book Philadelphia Gentlemen: The Making of a National Upper Class: "The circulation of elites in America and the assimilation of new men of power and influence into the upper class takes place primarily through the medium of urban clubdom. Aristocracy of birth is replaced by an aristocracy of ballot. Frederick Lewis Allen showed how this process operated in the case of the nine “Lords of Creation” who were listed in the New York Social Register as of 1905: ‘The nine men who were listed [in the Social Register] were recorded as belonging to 9.4 clubs apiece,’ wrote Allen. ‘Though only two of them, J. P. Morgan and Cornelius Vanderbilt III, belonged to the Knickerbocker Club, the citadel of Patrician families (indeed, both already belonged to old prominent families at the time), Stillman and Harriman joined these two in the membership of the almost equally fashionable Union Club; Baker joined these four in the membership of the Metropolitan Club of New York (magnificent, but easier of access to new wealth); John D. Rockefeller, William Rockefeller, and Rogers, along with Morgan and Baker were listed as members of the Union League Club (the stronghold of Republican respectability); seven of the group belonged to the New York Yacht Club. Morgan belonged to nineteen clubs in all; Vanderbilt, to fifteen; Harriman, to fourteen.’ Allen then goes on to show how the descendants of these financial giants were assimilated into the upper class: ‘By way of footnote, it may be added that although in that year [1905] only two of our ten financiers belonged to the Knickerbocker Club, in 1933 the grandsons of six of them did. The following progress is characteristic: John D. Rockefeller, Union League Club; John D. Rockefeller, Jr., University Club; John D. Rockefeller 3rd, Knickerbocker Club. Thus is the American aristocracy recruited.'"

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.

Alabama

 * Birmingham
 * The Club (1951)
 * The Phoenix Club (1883–1926), moved to Shades Mountain and became a country club
 * Mobile
 * The Athelstan Club (1875)
 * The Manassas Club (1861-1920s)
 * Tuscaloosa
 * The University Club of the University of Alabama (1944)

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)

Arkansas

 * Little Rock
 * The Little Rock Club (1969)

California

 * Bakersfield
 * The Petroleum Club of Bakersfield (1952)
 * Berkeley
 * The Berkeley City Club (1927)
 * The Berkeley Faculty Club (1902)


 * 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

 * Greenwich
 * The Field Club (1908)
 * Hartford
 * The Hartford Club (1873)


 * 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

 * Washington
 * The Alibi Club (1884) abandoned
 * The Army and Navy Club (1885)
 * The Arts Club of Washington (1916)
 * The Capitol Hill Club (The National Republican Club) (1951)
 * The City Tavern Club (1959)
 * The Cosmos Club (1878)
 * The George Town Club (1966)
 * The Metropolitan Club (1863)
 * The National Press Club (1908)
 * The Racquet Club of Washington (1920–1936), merged into the University Club of Washington, D.C.
 * The Sulgrave Club (1922)
 * The University Club of Washington, DC (1904)
 * The Washington Club (1891–2013), merged into the University Club of Washington, D.C.

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)
 * 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

 * Atlanta
 * The Buckhead Club (1988)
 * The Burns Club Atlanta (1896)
 * The Capital City Club (1883)
 * The Cherokee Town and Country Club (1956)
 * The Georgian Club (1982–2020)
 * The Piedmont Driving Club (1887)
 * The Standard Club (1866–1983), moved to Johns Creek, Georgia, and became a country club

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

 * Chicago
 * The Arts Club of Chicago
 * The Casino Club (1914)
 * The Caxton Club (1895)
 * The Chicago Athletic Association (1890–2007), insolvent
 * The Chicago Club (1869)
 * Chicago Yacht Club
 * The Cliff Dwellers Club (1907)
 * The Covenant Club
 * Columbia Yacht Club of Chicago
 * Lake Shore Athletic Club (1927–1977)
 * The Metropolitan Club
 * The Mid America Club
 * The Quadrangle Club (1893)
 * The Racquet Club of Chicago (1923)
 * The Sky-Line Club
 * The Tavern Club
 * The Tower Club
 * The Standard Club (1869–2020)
 * The Union League of Chicago (1879)
 * The University Club of Chicago (1887)


 * 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

 * Davenport
 * The Davenport Club (1945–1993), insolvent
 * The Outing Club (1891)


 * 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

 * Hutchinson
 * The Hutchinson Town Club (1947)
 * Kansas City
 * The Kansas City Athletic Club (1887)
 * Topeka
 * The Top of the Tower Club (1968)
 * Wichita
 * The Petroleum Club of Wichita (1949)
 * The Wichita Club (1889–1996), merged into the Petroleum Club of Wichita

Kentucky

 * Covington
 * The Metropolitan Club (1991)
 * Lexington
 * The Club at Spindletop Hall (1965)
 * The Lexington Club (1860)
 * Louisville
 * The Pendennis Club (1881)
 * The University Club of Louisville (1991)
 * The Louisville Thoroughbred Society (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

 * Bangor
 * The Tarratine Club (1884–1991)
 * Portland
 * The Cumberland Club (1877)
 * The Portland Club (1886)
 * The Woodfords Club (1913)

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
 * The Hamilton Street Club
 * The Mt. Vernon Club
 * The Woman's Club of Roland Park

Massachusetts

 * Amherst
 * The University of Massachusetts University Club (1935)
 * Andover
 * The Lanam Club (1957)

Michigan

 * Calumet
 * The Miscowaubik Club (1903)


 * 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

 * Bloomington
 * The Decathlon Club (1968–2000), was damaged in fire and did not reopen
 * Duluth
 * Kitchi Gammi Club (1883)

Mississippi

 * Gulfport
 * The Great Southern Club (1988)
 * Jackson
 * The Capital Club (1947)

Missouri

 * Clayton
 * The Saint Louis Club (1961)
 * The University Club of St. Louis (1872–2007), insolvent
 * The Whittemore House Club (1969)

Montana

 * Billings
 * The Billings Petroleum Club (1954)
 * Butte
 * The Silver Bow Club (1906–1930), insolvent
 * Helena
 * Montana Club (1885) Its 1905 new building was designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert with attention to style of traditional London gentlemen's clubs. NRHP-listed within Helena Historic District. Its floor design includes white swastikas.
 * Miles City
 * The Miles City Club (1884)

Nebraska

 * Lincoln
 * The Nebraska Club (1954–2020), insolvent
 * The University Club of Lincoln (1923–1999), insolvent, members joined Nebraska Club
 * Omaha
 * The Omaha Press Club (1955)

New Hampshire

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

New Jersey

 * Florham Park
 * The Park Avenue Club (1894)
 * Montclair
 * The Commonwealth Club (1904)
 * Morristown
 * The Morristown Club (1884)
 * Newark
 * The 744 Club (1958–1991), insolvent
 * The Downtown Club (1914–1983), insolvent
 * The Essex Club (1876–1992), insolvent
 * The Newark Athletic Club (1850–1965), insolvent
 * New Brunswick
 * The Rutgers Club (1957)
 * Ocean City
 * The Riverboat Club (1964–2017), closed due to expensive fire code violations
 * Princeton
 * The Nassau Club (1889)
 * The Prospect House Club (1968)


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

New Mexico

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

New York

 * Albany
 * The Fort Orange Club (1880)
 * The University Club of Albany (1901)

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)
 * The Twin City Club (1885–2010), insolvent

Ohio

 * Akron
 * The Akron City Club (1915–2003), insolvent
 * Cincinnati
 * The Bankers Club (1946–2009), insolvent
 * The Business Men's Club (1896–1924), merged into the Cincinnati Club
 * The Cincinnati Athletic Club (1853)
 * The Cincinnati Club (1889–1983), insolvent
 * The Cincinnati Faculty Club (1968)
 * The Cincinnati Women's Club (1894)
 * The Cuvier Press Club (1911–1973), insolvent
 * The Literary Club of Cincinnati (1849)
 * Miami Boat Club (1897)
 * The Phoenix Club (1859–1911), merged into the Business Men's Club
 * Stumps (1900)
 * The Queen City Club (1874)
 * The University Club of Cincinnati (1879)


 * 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

 * Eugene
 * The Town Club (1950–2007), insolvent
 * Portland
 * The Arlington Club (1867)
 * The Founders Club (1984)
 * The Multnomah Athletic Club (1891)
 * The University Club of Portland (1898)
 * The St Johns Bachelor Club (1909)

Pennsylvania

 * Andalusia
 * The Schuylkill Fishing Company (1732), second-oldest existing gentlemen's club in North America (behind the South River Club)
 * Bethlehem
 * The Bethlehem Club (1909–2007), insolvent
 * The University Club of Bethlehem (1911)


 * 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

 * East Providence
 * The Squantum Association (1870)


 * 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

 * Aiken
 * The Aiken Tennis Club (1898)
 * The Green Boundary Club (1956)
 * Camden
 * The Springdale Hall Club (1950)
 * Charleston
 * The Charleston Club (1852)
 * Columbia
 * The Palmetto Club (1956)
 * The Summit Club (1972–2010), merged into the Palmetto Club
 * Greenville
 * The Poinsett Club (1935)
 * Hilton Head
 * Yacht Club of Hilton Head Island (1971)
 * Rock Hill
 * The City Club of Rock Hill (1998)
 * Spartanburg
 * The Piedmont Club (1941)

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)


 * 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

 * Salt Lake City
 * The Alta Club (1883)
 * The University Club of Salt Lake City (1904–1993), insolvent

Vermont

 * Burlington
 * The Ethan Allen Club (1857–2010), insolvent

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

 * Bellevue
 * The Harbor Club (1959)
 * The Bellevue Club (1979)
 * Seattle
 * The Arctic Club (1908–1971), insolvent
 * The College Club of Seattle (1910)
 * The Harbor Club (1959–2015)
 * The Rainier Club (1888)
 * The University Club of Seattle (1900)
 * The University of Washington Club (1913)
 * The Washington Athletic Club (1930)

Wisconsin

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

Alabama

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

Arizona

 * Phoenix
 * The Arizona Club (1894–2009)

California

 * Fresno
 * The Downtown Club (1963–2013)


 * Los Angeles
 * The Regency Club (1981–2011)
 * The University Club of Los Angeles (1898–1992)

Wyoming

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