Camp David Sign

Probably the most well-known photo of Camp David is the one below with young David Eisenhower standing in front of the Camp David sign.  His grandfather, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, renamed the Shangri-La presidential retreat to "Camp David" in honor of him.

David Eisenhower standing in front of the Camp David sign

The Camp David sign has become a symbol of the Presidential Retreat and appears in various locations around the camp.

Camp David hosts many visitors throughout the year. For security purposes, guests are not allowed to take photos. However, official photos taken next to the famous sign are permitted.

In 2008, First Lady Laura Bush led a tour of Camp David for the presidential library directors, the Archivist of the United States, and staff from the Office of Presidential Libraries. One of the tour participants wrote about this experience on her blog.

Laura Bush poses with directors of the Presidential Libraries Wednesday, June 4, 2008, during their visit to Camp David

President Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in April 2008

The Camp David sign was originally located at the entrance to Camp David, but is now inside the retreat.  There are multiple signs located throughout the camp. The sign above with Bush and Lee is located near the helicopter landing area. There is also a sign near the Hickory Lodge. The sign has lights installed under the roof and is illuminated at night.

Lights installed on the Camp David sign illuminate it at night

The original entrance sign read Shangri-La, which was the name of the retreat prior to the Eisenhower Administration.  The sign on the right is from 1972. This 2003 blog post has a more recent photo of the entrance to Camp David where the sign there reads simply "Camp #3".

Camp David entrance signs 

Sources:  Eisenhower Presidential Library; Gerald R. Ford Foundation; whitehouse.gov; Watch this, Mom!;
Sea Scout Ship 25; UPI