Beginning in 1938, a summer recreational camp in the Catoctin Recreation Demonstration Area (RDA) was developed for the use of Federal government workers and their families. Called Hi-Catoctin, it offered small cabins, a dining hall and a swimming pool.

In summer even the White House, which had air conditioning, was so uncomfortable that the doctors were concerned for FDR's health. The President needed a retreat. Thus the search began for a location near D.C. where the President could relax away from the White House pressures and the D.C. summer heat. The RDA camp Hi-Catoctin was selected. The President's gain was the Federal employees' loss. Therein begins the story of Shangri-La/Camp David.

President Eisenhower changed the name of Shangri -la to Camp David.

The first time President Nixon visited he walked out to look at the Camp David sign which then said Camp Three. He wanted the old sign put back up and was promised it would be done by the next morning. Except that it could not be found. It was supposed to be, and had been, stored in the loft of the carpenter shop but someone had moved or taken it. Since it ws gone they had to make a new old lo

The Staff area consisted of Hawthorn, Sycamore, Linden, Walnut and Laurel. Hawthorn, Sycamore and Linden were one room cabins with bath. Walnut has a lounge with two bedrooms and a bath. With the exception of Laurel, these cabins were rebuilt and indoor plumbing installed in 1956. They were furnished mostly with furniture removed from the Presidential Yacht Williamsburg which was decommissioned August 1953.

FDR's Scotish terrier was the first of a long line of dogs to enjoy chasing squirrels and chipmunks at Camp David. President Reagan complained that when he left the White House for Camp David his dog, Rex, would beat him to the window seat in the helicopter. President Truman brought his dog "Fellow" to Camp and left him. After several years, Navy Chief Lyle requested and received permission to take Fellow home with him upon retirement.

Chestnut at one time housed the telephone switchboard. The switchboard is manned 24 hours a day. All calls within the camp were handled by the operator. The Army persons who operated the switchboard once lived there. Ash housed the two boilers.

The new Laurel is a multipurpose building with kitchen, dining area, three conference rooms, and a Presidential office. Holly, the old Laurel, is now used for recreation.

Laurel Lodge survived the 1970's construction, however its name was changed to Holly and a new Laurel was built.

In 1955 there was a small clearing where the crew played soft ball. This clearing was enlarged during the Eisenhower years and a hanger and skeet range added. The introduction of the helicopter with a 30 minute trip from the White House, has made the camp more accessible to the President. FDR made 22 trips to Shangri-La, President Reagan made 187 to Camp David.

Aspen was renovated in 1959. The changes were the sun porch was enlarged. Two baths and a partial bath just off the living area, and a hallway entrance were added. A central air conditioner and the lower terrace were also added. A room was made to house the movie projector giving the family and guests more privacy. The screen operated electrically and dropped from the ceiling.

oking sign. The Chief Builder in charge of the carpenter shop was rumored that as a part time job he was an expert at "making" antique furniture. And so the Chief builder worked all night to make the new sign. In the morning it was hanging in place when Nixon strolled out to look at it. No one new the difference and the original sign never was found.

Nixon had the swimming pool built. He used old Maple for an office but later moved his office to Aspen. The snowy winter scene is quite common in camp. Due to the elevation it usually runs 5 to 10 degrees cooler that D.C., making it rather nice during the summer but a bit on the rough side during winter. Changes made during 1957 renovation are shown. Indirect lighting and the dining area was moved to the sun porch. There were pen and ink drawings of sailing ships hung in the hall way celebrating British defeats at sea in the Revolution and the War of 1812. Perhaps because of FDR's association with the navy as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. These drawings were lost in 1958 during renovation in Eisenhower years.

In 1970 a plan was started to replace the older more primitive guest cabins with larger and more modern facilities. The new cabins all have two bedrooms, two baths and a lounge with a stone fireplace. Birch and Dogwood had been single ro

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2307
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)