Rapidan Camp
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Camp Hoover
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The Rapidan Camp "Brown House" in Hoover's Time
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| Nearest city | Syria, Virginia |
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| Coordinates | 38°29′26.7″N 78°25′11.7″W / 38.490750°N 78.419917°WCoordinates: 38°29′26.7″N 78°25′11.7″W / 38.490750°N 78.419917°W |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | Hoover,Lou Henry; US Marine Corps |
| Architectural style | Other |
| NRHP Reference # | 88001825 |
| VLR # | 056-0062 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 7, 1988 |
| Designated NHLD | June 7, 1988 |
| Designated VLR | February 16, 1988 |
Rapidan Camp (also known at times as Camp Hoover) in Shenandoah National Park in Madison County, Virginia, was built by U.S. President Herbert Hoover and his wife Lou Henry Hoover, and served as their rustic retreat throughout Hoover's administration from 1929 to 1933. The first family's residential cabin was known as the "Brown House" in contrast to their more famous residence, the White House.
Rapidan Camp was precursor of the current presidential retreat, Camp David.
In November 1928, Herbert Hoover was overwhelmingly elected as 31st President of the United States. While all preceding Presidents came from the Eastern half of the United States, Hoover's origins were further from Washington, D.C.—he had been born in Iowa and spent much of his life in California. Returning home to routinely escape the pressure and spotlight of the presidency would not be possible, so he desired a closer casual retreat.
Hoover and his wife had lived together at mining camps while he served as a mine engineer for over 10 years and appreciated the isolation of remote accommodations. He instructed his secretary Lawrence Richey to find a secluded retreat site within 100 miles (160 km) of Washington, D.C., at least 2,500 feet (760 m) above sea level to avoid mosquitoes and—most importantly—close to an excellent trout stream for fishing.
Virginia Governor Harry F. Byrd was a strong supporter of plans to establish Shenandoah National Park, and persuaded Will Carson, Chairman of Virginia's Commission on Conservation and Development, to lead the effort. Two months before Hoover's March inauguration, Carson recommended that the President-elect and his wife Lou Henry Hoover consider establishing their camp at the headwaters of the Rapidan River. The remote, undeveloped site lay on Doubletop Mountain, on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Madison County. The Mill Prong and the Laurel Prong streams join within the camp to form the Rapidan River, and all three provide excellent fishing.
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