Lewis P. Hobart designed this five-story, brick-sheathed building as a three-part vertical composition. The high exposed base on Post Street tapers to no base at uphill end of the building on Taylor Street. The understated aesthetic is derived from Georgian Revival townhouses. Decorative details, such as spandrel brickwork, were influenced by the Mediterranean Revival and Art Deco architectural styles popular in the 1930s.

The Bohemian Club was formed in April 1872 by journalists who wished to promote a fraternal connection among men who enjoyed the arts. Journalists were to be regular members; artists and musicians were to be honorary members.

The group quickly relaxed its rules and began to admit men who had little artistic talent but greater financial resources. Eventually, the original bohemian members were in the minority and the wealthy and powerful controlled the club. [Source: Wikipedia.]

Club member and poet George Sterling wrote: "There are two elements, at least, that are essential to Bohemianism. The first is devotion or addiction to one or more of the Seven Arts; the other is poverty."

Oscar Wilde, upon visiting the club in 1882, is reported to have said, "I never saw so many well-dressed, well-fed, business-looking Bohemians in my life."