Steamworks celebrates 50 years

By Tom Olah

Steamworks Baths is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Steamworks was born when Rick Stokes and David Clayton, part owners of the Rich Street Baths in San Francisco since 1965, sold their interest there and, with investors, purchased Berkeley’s Mayan Baths. After a remodel, they opened the first “The Steam Works Baths” in 1976.

Eventually changing the name to simply Steamworks Baths, the brand expanded to locations in Sacramento, Fresno, Honolulu, San Juan Puerto Rico, Chicago, Toronto, Seattle, and Vancouver. Today, the chain continues in its original Berkeley location, as well as Chicago and Vancouver, with affiliated locations in Seattle and Toronto.

Over their 50-year history, one of the achievements Steamworks is proudest of is its leadership in actively participating in the sexual health and wellness of its customers. Their mission is to provide a social and safe space for MSM, trans, queer, and questioning people to explore their sexuality and identity. Their vision is to foster a community of body and sex positivity through education, holistic prevention programming, and wellness initiatives.

Founder Rick Stokes often shared a story about a customer experience that changed what he believed the bathhouse industry should be — and what Steamworks believes is its responsibility. Nearly 30 years ago, a member came to him troubled and frustrated after trying to receive treatment for an STI from doctors at Kaiser Hospital in California. The customer explained that providers treated him poorly after he was honest about having gay sex.

Stokes realized how important it was for Steamworks to become a resource for members regarding sexual health and wellness. He developed partnerships with the Berkeley Free Clinic and their Gay Men’s Health Collective to provide a judgment-free, safe, in-club space where members could receive harm reduction information, testing, and STI treatment.

He also directed his team to collaborate with university health and wellness initiatives and research studies to determine the best prevention and advocacy programs that could be implemented inside Steamworks locations. This eventually led to Steamworks and the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) publishing case studies showing that HIV prevention efforts conducted in bathhouse settings could help lower the transmission and spread of HIV and other STIs.

This work became even more critical during the 1980s AIDS crisis. Local governments increasingly focused on bathhouses as sources of HIV transmission, and many cities, including San Francisco, chose to shut bathhouses down rather than utilize them as resources for prevention and outreach.

Working closely with public health agencies, Steamworks helped spread awareness about the then-new concept of “Safe Sex.” When HIV testing became more available and practical, Steamworks invited health agencies into dedicated “Outreach Rooms” to provide testing and counseling for HIV and other STIs.

Programs like “Mr. Sexx” offered mental health sessions centered around sexual health and harm reduction, allowing members to have one-on-one conversations with mental health professionals. Steamworks also made condoms and lube freely available throughout their clubs.

More recently, Steamworks has worked with UIC research partners on wellness initiatives and surveys exploring topics ranging from community anxieties surrounding the MPOX outbreak to the impact of the current political climate on LGBTQ+ mental health. During the MPOX outbreak, Steamworks locations partnered closely with city public health departments and providers from UIC, Rush, Berkeley Free Clinic, and others to help vaccinate thousands of community members on-site.

Some of Steamworks’ more recent accomplishments include raising tens of thousands of dollars for the ACLU Drag Defense Fund, PFLAG chapters across the country, and Pineapple Support, which provides mental health services for adult industry performers and content creators.

As they celebrate 50 years in business, Steamworks is thanking customers with a special customer appreciation party on Wednesday, April 22. All day on 4/22, lockers will be available for $19.76, and the club will also be giving away free 50-day memberships.

Steamworks Chicago will host its customer appreciation event on Wednesday, April 22, from 6 p.m. to midnight. Special guest Moose the DJ will be spinning, and guests can enjoy prizes and giveaways from partners including 2Bears Tavern, Jackhammer, SOFO Tap, The Meeting House Tavern, and Marty's.

Look to their socials for more surprise party announcements. For more information on Steamworks community health partnerships, ongoing 50th anniversary events, specials, and celebrations, visit Steamworks Baths