21 Photos of What Life Looked Like in a 1970s Hippie Commune

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 12/29/2024 in wow

From the 1960s through the early '80s, the hippie movement made transformational change in America. Suddenly long hair, smoking weed, and totally ignoring your responsibilities was cool.

Hippie communes took the philosophy to its extreme: living off the land as a total community. Until, of course, members realized that humanity created modern luxuries for a reason.

Here are 21 photos of what life looked like in a hippie commune.

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1. Ron Bray, Nancy Bray and Family
By photographer John Olson.
2. The Rotation
Passing it around.
3. “My Brother”
In the Brotherhood of the Spirit commune, 1973.
4. Front Yard
Symbol necessary, in case you couldn't tell.
5. Commune Hippies
With a new midwife-delivered baby, outside of their tent home. 1974.
6. The Van
No hippie community is complete without the van.
7. School Bus
I think they might need a second.
8. "The Farm"
Summertown TN commune. Circa mid 70s.
9. Baby Bath
Washing the kids in a basin.
10. Family
Living off the grid.
11. Oregon
Commune Group in 1969.
12. Serenated
Man with guitar.
13. Meditating
Group of hippies meditates.
14.
15. Hippie Commune Girl
By Roberta Price, 1969.
16. Farming
Living off the land.
17. Chopping Wood
Boxers are all that's needed.
18. Farm
Growing fresh food.
19. A "Family."
"Somewhere in the woods."
20. Commune Cafeteria.
And pine cone decorations.
21. Kitchen at a Hippie Commune
West Virginia, late winter, 1976.

1. Ron Bray, Nancy Bray and Family
By photographer John Olson.
2. The Rotation
Passing it around.
3. “My Brother”
In the Brotherhood of the Spirit commune, 1973.
4. Front Yard
Symbol necessary, in case you couldn't tell.
5. Commune Hippies
With a new midwife-delivered baby, outside of their tent home. 1974.
6. The Van
No hippie community is complete without the van.
7. School Bus
I think they might need a second.
8. "The Farm"
Summertown TN commune. Circa mid 70s.
9. Baby Bath
Washing the kids in a basin.
10. Family
Living off the grid.
11. Oregon
Commune Group in 1969.
12. Serenated
Man with guitar.
13. Meditating
Group of hippies meditates.
14.
15. Hippie Commune Girl
By Roberta Price, 1969.
16. Farming
Living off the land.
17. Chopping Wood
Boxers are all that's needed.
18. Farm
Growing fresh food.
19. A "Family."
"Somewhere in the woods."
20. Commune Cafeteria.
And pine cone decorations.
21. Kitchen at a Hippie Commune
West Virginia, late winter, 1976.