Camp David
Camp David is a 125-acre (51 ha) country retreat for the president of the United States. It is located in the wooded hills of Catoctin Mountain Park, in Frederick County, Maryland, near the towns of Thurmont and Emmitsburg, about 62 miles (100 km) north-northwest of the national capital city of Washington, D.C. It is code named Naval Support Facility Thurmont. Technically a military installation, its staffing is primarily provided by the Seabees, Civil Engineer Corps (CEC), the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. Naval construction battalions are tasked with Camp David construction and send detachments as needed.
| Camp David Naval Support Facility Thurmont | |
|---|---|
| Catoctin Mountain Park Frederick County, Maryland in the United States | |
The main lodge during February 1971 | |
Camp David Location in Maryland Camp David Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates | 39°38′54″N 77°27′54″W |
| Type | Presidential country retreat |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Department of Defense |
| Operator | US Navy |
| Controlled by | Naval District Washington |
| Open to the public | No |
| Website | Official website |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1935–1938 |
| Built by | Works Progress Administration |
| In use | 1938–present |
| Events | Camp David Accords (1978) Camp David Summit (2000) 38th G8 summit (2012) |
| Garrison information | |
| Current commander | Commander Catherine Eyrich |
| Occupants | President of the United States and the First Family |
Originally known as Hi-Catoctin, Camp David was built as a retreat for federal government agents and their families by the Works Progress Administration. Construction started in 1935 and was completed in 1938. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt converted it to a presidential retreat and renamed it "Shangri-La", after the fictional Himalayan paradise. Camp David received its present name in 1953 from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in honor of his father and his grandson, both named David.
The Catoctin Mountain Park does not indicate the location of Camp David on park maps due to privacy and security concerns, although it can be seen through the use of publicly accessible satellite images.