46th National Convention
July 27–29, 2009
Austin, Texas

Convention History

Woodmen of the World National Conventions, originally called Sovereign Camps, have been an integral part of Woodmen of the World's self-government for more than a century.

National Conventions were held every two years from 1895-1965. Beginning in 1969, National Conventions were convened every four years. Below is a list of past Woodmen of the World National Conventions and their locations:

Past Conventions

Dates Locations City
June 3-6, 1890 1 Paxton Hotel Omaha, Neb.
Aug. 13, 1890 2 New Savory Hotel Des Moines, Iowa
March 12-19, 1895 Sheeley Building Omaha, Neb.
March 9-20, 1897 Planters Hotel St. Louis, Mo.
March 14-24, 1899 Gayoso Hotel Memphis, Tenn.
May 14-25, 1901 Great Southern Hotel Columbus, Ohio
May 12-23, 1903 Metropolitan Auditorium Milwaukee, Wis.
May 9-18, 1905 Lookout Inn Chattanooga, Tenn.
May 14-25, 1907 Odd Fellows Hall Norfolk, Va.
June 8-18, 1909 Wayne Hotel Detroit, Mich.


1910-1930
June 13-24, 1911 Hotel Seneca Rochester, N.Y.
June 10-21, 1913 Board of Trade Building Jacksonville, Fla.
June 13-24, 1915 Masonic Temple St. Paul, Minn.
July 10-21, 1917 Auditorium-Armory Atlanta, Ga.
July 17-26, 1919 Powers Theater Chicago, Ill.
July 5-15, 1921 Keith's Colonial Theater New York, N.Y.
July 2-7, 1923 Gunter Hotel San Antonio, Texas
July 1-11, 1925 Hotel Statler Detroit, Mich.
July 13-18, 1927 Hotel Alexandria Los Angeles, Calif.
July 10-18, 1929 Olympic Hotel Seattle, Wash.


1930-1950
June 24-30, 1931 Statler Hotel Buffalo, N.Y.
Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 1932 2 Paxton Hotel Omaha, Neb.
July 11-18, 1933 Morrison Hotel Chicago, Ill.
July 22-29, 1935 Park Central Hotel New York, N.Y.
June 21-28, 1937 Hotel Biltmore Los Angeles, Calif.
June 26-July 3, 1939 Pennsylvania Hotel New York, N.Y.
June 30-July 7, 1941 St. Francis Hotel San Francisco, Calif.
Feb. 4-8, 1946 3 George Washington Hotel Jacksonville, Fla.
Oct. 20-24, 1947 3 Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans, La.
June 27-July 1, 1949 Plaza Hotel San Antonio, Texas


1950-1970
July 16-20, 1951 Olympic Hotel Seattle, Wash.
July 20-24, 1953 Hotel Statler Washington, D.C.
July 22-29, 1955 Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, Calif.
July 22-25, 1957 Hotel Statler New York, N.Y.
July 20-23, 1959 Hotel Leamington Minneapolis, Minn.
April 28, 1960 2 Holiday Inn Nashville, Tenn.
July 20-Aug. 3, 1961 Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, Calif.
July 14-18, 1963 Deauville Hotel Miami Beach, Fla.
July 18-22, 1965 Americana Hotel New York, N.Y. 
July 20-24, 1969 Hilton Hotel San Francisco, Calif.


1970-2000
July 22-26, 1973 Hilton Hotel Omaha, Neb.
July 17-21, 1977 Town & Country Hotel San Diego, Calif.
July 26-30, 1981 Hyatt Regency Hotel Nashville, Tenn.
July 21-25, 1985 Town & Country Hotel San Diego, Calif.
July 16-20, 1989 Red Lion Hotel Omaha, Neb.
July 11-15, 1993 Opryland Hotel Nashville, Tenn.
July 27-30, 1997 Hilton at Walt Disney World Village Orlando, Fla.


2000 - Present
July 29-Aug. 1, 2001 Hilton Charlotte & Towers Charlotte, N.C.
July 29-Aug. 3, 2005 Hilton Omaha Omaha, Neb.
July 26-29, 2009 Hilton Austin Austin, Tex.
     
1 Organizing Session
2 Special Session
3 Sessions postponed due to wartime restrictions on travel.