Nudist History

At Circa 1890 Naked People (Nackende Menschen) by Heinrich Pudor, under the pseudonym of Heinrich Scham was probably the first book on nudism to be published. Written in Germany during the 1890s, it predates even Richard Ungewitter's Die Nacktheit. The English translation was published in 1894, and has seemingly been lost. Now, resurrected by Reason Books, Naked People's renewed availability will place it as an immediate collector's item, appropriate for any serious library. Naked People itself is aphoristic and poetic, but its pleading for a naked and open lifestyle is both continual and undeniable.

At Circa 1900 A return to nude public bathing was pioneered in Germany by a group of young weekend hikers called Wandervögel (migratory birds). They hiked around the countryside and skinny-dipped where conditions allowed. A second German group contributed to naturism; it was the Naturheilbewegung (Natural Healing Movement) which promoted the idea that the sun's rays had healing properties if they were enjoyed in the nude. German sociologist Heinrigh Pudor is regarded as the " father of nudism. " He wrote a book "The Cult of the Nude" promoting naturism. This was at a time when the word "cult" had not taken on the negative meanings that it has today.

At 1950s Police raids on nudist groups became less frequent. One of the last occurred in Michigan in 1956. A Christian radio evangelist had campaigned to close down the Sunshine Gardens Nudist Resort . After a series of court battles, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that naturists had a right to practice nudism within private resorts.

At 1986 Burning Man Festival — First event on Baker Beach in San Francisco.
Conceived by Larry Harvey with help from Jerry James - 20 participants, 8 foot man.

1990 - Burnin Man moved to Black Rock Desert, Nevada - 100 participants attend desert burning - Height of Man: 40 feet.

At September 21, 2000 — A new nationwide poll commissioned by the Naturist Education Foundation (NEF) and conducted by the independent Roper-Starch organization indicates that Americans overwhelmingly approve of nude sunbathing on beaches set aside for that purpose.

In the scientific sampling conducted by Roper, 80 percent of those polled said they believed people who enjoy nude sunbathing should be able to do so without interference from officials as long as they do so at a beach that is accepted for that purpose. The approval rating for nude beaches is up from the 72% that was registered in a poll with identical questions taken by Gallup in 1983.

At July 2002 A New Tradition Hits Pamplona, Spain
The first annual running of the nudes brought a new cruelty-free day of excitement to Pamplona when 25 mostly naked runners ran the traditional bull course. A mass of locals and tourists gathered around to watch as the runners hit the streets to spread the message to the world that a new tradition was underway!