Cherry Grove Archives Collection

The Cherry Grove Archives Collection is dedicated to the preservation of the social, political, and cultural history of Cherry Grove, Fire Island. The Cherry Grove community is thought to be the earliest known safe haven for LGBTQ people and their allies in the United States. The Archives committee collects, preserves and shares this rich and unique history through the archival protection and storage of Cherry Grove's documents, artifacts, photographs and film.

During the 1950's gay and lesbian members of this Cherry Grove beach community socialized openly (putting aside the ongoing police raids in the community's "meat rack"), and often together with straight residents summering there.

Costume-themed house parties and theatrical productions were all the rage in the Grove during the 1950's, where gender fluidity, drag and costume provided an opportunity to openly express one's homosexuality. While gay men may have initially come to Cherry Grove in the 1950's primarily in pursuit of sex, men - and women - found a place that provided emotional and social support allowing gay and lesbians to flourish in a community unlike any other in the world.

The Cherry Grove Archive Collection includes many thousands of negatives, prints and other media.
From this archival collection, we have identified and restored sixty-one images that date from the 1950's to present in exhibition form. Many but not all were taken by a Cherry Grove artist with a medium format camera; others were taken by visitors or renters who summered in the community during that era.

The CGAC was thrilled to open our first exhibit at the Stonewall National Museum & Archives Wilton Manors Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, FL. on Friday, February 21, 2020.

We hope you enjoy a "virtual tour" through Safe/Haven: Gay Life in 1950s Cherry Grove.