Founded in 1965 in Cleveland, the Club Baths chain grew into a network of over 40 gay bathhouses across North America—becoming a vital part of queer nightlife and sexual liberation during the '60s, '70s, and early '80s. With sleek facilities, social lounges, and steamy saunas, Club Baths weren’t just about cruising—they were hubs of community, resistance, and pride at a time when being out was a radical act. The chain began to decline in the mid-1980s amid the AIDS crisis and increasing political pressure, with most locations shuttered by the late '80s. Still, Club Baths remains an icon of a bold and transformative era in LGBTQ+ history.
