Old soldiers' home
Encyclopedia
An old soldiers' home is a military veteran's retirement home
, nursing home
, or hospital
, or sometimes even an institution for the care of the widows and orphans of a nation's soldiers, sailors, and marines, etc.
approved in 1811, but not opened until 1834 in the Philadelphia Naval Yard. The Naval Home was moved to Gulfport, Mississippi
in 1976.
The first Army national old soldiers' home in the U.S. was established in Washington, D.C.
in 1851. The Old Soldier's Home (Washington), now known as the Armed Forces Retirement Home
, was the site of President Abraham Lincoln
's summer home during the Civil War and is adjacent to National Cemetery
, the first federal military cemetery
in the U.S. President Lincoln's Cottage has been designated a National Monument
, and recently underwent renovation. It reopened to the public on President's Day, February 18, 2008. The Home has remained in continuous use since its establishment in 1851. It is located on a beautiful 250 acres (1 km²) wooded campus overlooking the U.S. Capitol in the heart of D.C. and continues to serve as a retirement home for U.S. enlisted men and women. Both the Washington D.C. and Gulfport soldiers' and sailors' homes are funded through a small monthly contribution from the pay of members of the U.S. Armed Services.
Following the American Civil War
the federal government increased the number of National Military Homes
, and took over a few formerly state-run old soldiers' homes. By 1933 there were 17 federally managed veterans homes. All except the first two of these homes were eventually combined with other federal government agencies to become part of what is now called the Veterans Administration
, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs established in 1930.
State homes. Caring for the disabled and elderly, and the widows and orphans of men who died in the war became a concern even before the Civil War
ended. For example, in 1864 Fitch's Home for Soldiers and Their Orphans was opened with private donations in Connecticut
. Various female benevolent societies pushed for the creation of a long-term care federal or state soldier home system at the end of the war. Large veterans organizations like the Grand Army of the Republic
and United Confederate Veterans
eventually also worked for the creation of federal and state homes to care for disabled or elderly veterans. In a few cases veterans organizations on their own raised the money to buy property and build veterans homes. Most of these were quickly turned over to the state government to fund and manage. The majority of state legislatures established veterans homes paid for by state monies from the start. 43 states managed 55 functioning state veterans homes before 1933. Fourteen of those states also had a federal veterans home open at the same time as their state veterans home.
Eleven states had two or more state veterans homes in operation at the same time (two of which also had a federal home). Some states simply had several homes at once. A few states admitted veterans' widows, and a few other states established separate homes for the widows and orphans. A few states had separate Union
and Confederate
old soldiers' homes. The first of 16 Confederate homes was opened in 1881 in Georgetown, Kentucky. Confederate soldiers' homes were supported entirely by subscribers, or by their state with no funds from the federal government against which the Confederates had fought.
A few state-run old soldiers' homes were eventually folded into the federal veterans home system. As their last few Civil War veterans were dying in the 1930s, some states chose to close their old soldiers' homes, and other states began admission of veterans from more recent wars. Several of these state old soldiers' homes have been modernized and serve veterans to this day.
City homes. Soldier homes in major cities were among the earliest, usually starting more as hotels for men passing through town, but increasingly taking on disabled servicemen. These were usually operated as paying businesses rather than being fully funded by the government. Philadelphia
had two soldiers' homes which were associated with nearby saloons and got their start as a part of the refreshment and lodging business. Women activists also helped establish disabled soldiers' homes in Boston, Chicago, and Milwaukee
, or in conjunction with the U.S. Sanitary Commission in 25 other cities. The Boston home closed in 1869, the Philadelphia homes closed in 1872, the Chicago Soldiers' Home lasted until 1877, and Milwaukee turned into a federal home.
U.S. Sanitary Commission homes, lodges, and rest. During the Civil War the U.S. Sanitary Commission
provided Union servicemen "Temporary aid and protection,—food, lodging, care, etc.,—for soldiers in transitn[sic], chiefly the discharged, disabled, and furloughed." By 1865 the Commission operated 18 "soldiers' homes," 11 "lodges," and one "rest" in 15 states north and south (for a list see Commission bulletin, 3:1279). Most of their homes were war-time facilities and were closed at war's end. They are not included in the following list.
Retirement home
A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...
, nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
, or hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
, or sometimes even an institution for the care of the widows and orphans of a nation's soldiers, sailors, and marines, etc.
United States
Federal homes. The first national veterans' home in the United States was the United States Naval HomePhiladelphia Naval Asylum
The Philadelphia Naval Asylum, later the Naval Home, was a hospital, the Philadelphia Naval School, and a home for retired sailors for the United States Navy from 1834 to 1976, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
approved in 1811, but not opened until 1834 in the Philadelphia Naval Yard. The Naval Home was moved to Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
in 1976.
The first Army national old soldiers' home in the U.S. was established in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1851. The Old Soldier's Home (Washington), now known as the Armed Forces Retirement Home
Armed Forces Retirement Home
The Armed Forces Retirement Home , formerly the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home, the U.S. Soldiers' Home, and the U.S. Military Asylum, is an independent establishment in the executive branch of the federal government of the United States...
, was the site of President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's summer home during the Civil War and is adjacent to National Cemetery
United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery
United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, in Washington, D.C., is located next to the Armed Forces Retirement Home. It is one of only two national cemeteries administered by the Department of the Army—the other being Arlington National Cemetery...
, the first federal military cemetery
United States National Cemetery
"United States National Cemetery" is a designation for 146 nationally important cemeteries in the United States. A National Cemetery is generally a military cemetery containing the graves of U.S. military personnel, veterans and their spouses but not exclusively so...
in the U.S. President Lincoln's Cottage has been designated a National Monument
U.S. National Monument
A National Monument in the United States is a protected area that is similar to a National Park except that the President of the United States can quickly declare an area of the United States to be a National Monument without the approval of Congress. National monuments receive less funding and...
, and recently underwent renovation. It reopened to the public on President's Day, February 18, 2008. The Home has remained in continuous use since its establishment in 1851. It is located on a beautiful 250 acres (1 km²) wooded campus overlooking the U.S. Capitol in the heart of D.C. and continues to serve as a retirement home for U.S. enlisted men and women. Both the Washington D.C. and Gulfport soldiers' and sailors' homes are funded through a small monthly contribution from the pay of members of the U.S. Armed Services.
Following the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
the federal government increased the number of National Military Homes
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers
The National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was established on March 3, 1865, in the United States by Congress to provide care for volunteer soldiers who had been disabled through loss of limb, wounds, disease, or injury during service in the Union forces in the Civil War...
, and took over a few formerly state-run old soldiers' homes. By 1933 there were 17 federally managed veterans homes. All except the first two of these homes were eventually combined with other federal government agencies to become part of what is now called the Veterans Administration
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs established in 1930.
State homes. Caring for the disabled and elderly, and the widows and orphans of men who died in the war became a concern even before the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
ended. For example, in 1864 Fitch's Home for Soldiers and Their Orphans was opened with private donations in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Various female benevolent societies pushed for the creation of a long-term care federal or state soldier home system at the end of the war. Large veterans organizations like the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
and United Confederate Veterans
United Confederate Veterans
The United Confederate Veterans, also known as the UCV, was a veteran's organization for former Confederate soldiers of the American Civil War, and was equivalent to the Grand Army of the Republic which was the organization for Union veterans....
eventually also worked for the creation of federal and state homes to care for disabled or elderly veterans. In a few cases veterans organizations on their own raised the money to buy property and build veterans homes. Most of these were quickly turned over to the state government to fund and manage. The majority of state legislatures established veterans homes paid for by state monies from the start. 43 states managed 55 functioning state veterans homes before 1933. Fourteen of those states also had a federal veterans home open at the same time as their state veterans home.
Eleven states had two or more state veterans homes in operation at the same time (two of which also had a federal home). Some states simply had several homes at once. A few states admitted veterans' widows, and a few other states established separate homes for the widows and orphans. A few states had separate Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
old soldiers' homes. The first of 16 Confederate homes was opened in 1881 in Georgetown, Kentucky. Confederate soldiers' homes were supported entirely by subscribers, or by their state with no funds from the federal government against which the Confederates had fought.
A few state-run old soldiers' homes were eventually folded into the federal veterans home system. As their last few Civil War veterans were dying in the 1930s, some states chose to close their old soldiers' homes, and other states began admission of veterans from more recent wars. Several of these state old soldiers' homes have been modernized and serve veterans to this day.
City homes. Soldier homes in major cities were among the earliest, usually starting more as hotels for men passing through town, but increasingly taking on disabled servicemen. These were usually operated as paying businesses rather than being fully funded by the government. Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
had two soldiers' homes which were associated with nearby saloons and got their start as a part of the refreshment and lodging business. Women activists also helped establish disabled soldiers' homes in Boston, Chicago, and Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, or in conjunction with the U.S. Sanitary Commission in 25 other cities. The Boston home closed in 1869, the Philadelphia homes closed in 1872, the Chicago Soldiers' Home lasted until 1877, and Milwaukee turned into a federal home.
U.S. Sanitary Commission homes, lodges, and rest. During the Civil War the U.S. Sanitary Commission
United States Sanitary Commission
The United States Sanitary Commission was a private relief agency created by federal legislation on June 18, 1861, to support sick and wounded soldiers of the U.S. Army during the American Civil War. It operated across the North, raised its own funds, and enlisted thousands of volunteers...
provided Union servicemen "Temporary aid and protection,—food, lodging, care, etc.,—for soldiers in transitn[sic], chiefly the discharged, disabled, and furloughed." By 1865 the Commission operated 18 "soldiers' homes," 11 "lodges," and one "rest" in 15 states north and south (for a list see Commission bulletin, 3:1279). Most of their homes were war-time facilities and were closed at war's end. They are not included in the following list.
List of historic old soldiers' and sailors' homes within the United States
(by state)- Alabama Confederate Soldiers HomeAlabama Confederate Soldiers HomeThe Alabama Confederate Soldiers Home was the official home for former soldiers of the Confederate States of America by the state of Alabama, located in what is now Confederate Memorial Park in Mountain Creek in Chilton County, Alabama....
a.k.a. Jefferson Manly Falkner Soldiers' Home, Mountain Creek, AlabamaMountain Creek, AlabamaMountain Creek is an unincorporated community in southeastern Chilton County, Alabama, United States.-Confederate Memorial Park:It was the site of the Alabama Confederate Soldiers Home from 1902 to 1939, which is now the Confederate Memorial Park. The park has a museum, research facility, historic... - Tuskegee HomeTuskegee Veterans Administration Medical CenterThe Tuskegee Veterans Administration Medical Center began in 1923 as an old soldiers' home originally called the Tuskegee Home, part of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers system. The home-hospital, eventually 27 buildings, was created next to the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial...
a.k.a. Veterans Administration Hospital and Nursing Home, Tuskegee, AlabamaTuskegee, AlabamaTuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history.... - Arkansas Confederate Soldiers' Home, Sweet Home, ArkansasSweet Home, ArkansasSweet Home is a census-designated place in Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 849 at the 2010 census. It is part of the 'Little Rock-North Little Rock-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-Geography:...
- Los Angeles Disabled Veterans HomeSawtelle Veterans HomeThe Sawtelle Veterans Home was a care home for disabled American veterans in what is today part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area in California in the United States. The Home, formally the Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, was established in 1887 on of Rancho...
a.k.a. Pacific Branch National Military Home, SawtelleSawtelle, Los Angeles, CaliforniaSawtelle is an area partly within West Los Angeles, California, that may refer to a district that is part of the city of Los Angeles, an unincorporated area of the County of Los Angeles that by definition is not part of the municipality of Los Angeles, or may refer to a combination of these,...
, Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... - Veterans Home of California YountvilleVeterans Home of California YountvilleThe Veterans Home of California is located in Yountville, California and was founded in 1884. The facility is the largest of its kind in the United States and has a population of 1100 aged and disabled veterans of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and Operation Enduring...
, Yountville, CaliforniaYountville, CaliforniaYountville is an incorporated town in Napa County, California, United States. It is in the North Bay portion of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 2,933 at the 2010 census. Almost one third of the town's population lives on the grounds of the Veterans Home of California.The town's name... - Colorado State Soldiers and Sailors Home, Homelake, ColoradoHomelake, ColoradoHomelake is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office located in Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The Homelake Post Office has the ZIP Code 81135.- History :...
- Fitch's Home for Soldiers and Their Orphans, Darien, ConnecticutHistory of Darien, ConnecticutThe history of Darien, Connecticut, has been shaped by its location on the shore of Long Island Sound as the main route from Boston to New York City, initially with sailing ships and dirt roads for transportation, and later with locomotives and highways...
- United States Soldiers' Home a.k.a. Armed Forces Retirement HomeArmed Forces Retirement HomeThe Armed Forces Retirement Home , formerly the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home, the U.S. Soldiers' Home, and the U.S. Military Asylum, is an independent establishment in the executive branch of the federal government of the United States...
, Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... - Florida Old Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Home, Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, FloridaJacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
- St. Petersburg [National] Home (Bay Pines), St. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
- Confederate Soldiers' HomeConfederate Soldiers' HomeThe first Atlanta Confederate Soldiers' Home was built in 1889 with the support of Henry W. Grady at a cost of $45,000.. It stood on Boulevard in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. In 1901 it burned down...
a.k.a Georgia Soldiers' Home, Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in... - Idaho State Soldiers Home, Boise, IdahoBoise, IdahoBoise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
- Soldiers' Home, Chicago, Illinois
- Danville Branch National Military Home, Danville, IllinoisDanville, IllinoisDanville is a city in Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. It is the principal city of the'Danville, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Danville and Vermilion County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 32,467. It is the county seat of...
- Logan Home a.k.a. Maywood Home for Soldiers' Widows, Maywood, IllinoisMaywood, IllinoisMaywood is a village in Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It was founded on April 6, 1869 and organized October 22, 1881. The population was 26,987 at the 2000 census.-Overview:...
- Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home a.k.a. Illinois Veterans Home, Quincy, IllinoisQuincy, IllinoisQuincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
- Soldiers' Widows' Home, Wilmington, IllinoisWilmington, IllinoisWilmington is the name of two places in the U.S. state of Illinois:*Wilmington, Greene County, Illinois*Wilmington, Will County, Illinois...
- Marion Branch National Military HomeNational Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Marion BranchOn July 23, 1888, with increasing membership amongst the six National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers , Congress established the seventh of ten national old soldiers' homes in Grant County, Indiana to be known as the Marion Branch...
, Marion, IndianaMarion, IndianaMarion is a city in Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,948 as of the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Grant County... - Indiana State Soldiers Home, West Lafayette, IndianaWest Lafayette, IndianaAs of the census of 2010, there were 29,596 people, 12,591 households, and 3,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,381.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 74.3% White, 17.3% Asian, 2.7% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.03% Pacific...
- Iowa Veterans Home, Marshalltown, IowaMarshalltown, IowaMarshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
- Kansas Soldiers' HomeKansas Soldiers' HomeThe Kansas Soldiers' Home , located at Fort Dodge, Kansas, was established February 7, 1890. It is under the authority of the Kansas Commission of Veterans' Affairs. It has grown since its inception to include a variety of services.-History:...
, Fort Dodge, KansasFort Dodge, KansasFort Dodge is an unincorporated community in Ford County, Kansas, United States. Fort Dodge is located on U.S. Route 400 southeast of Dodge City. Fort Dodge has a post office with ZIP code 67843.... - Kansas State Soldiers' Home a.k.a. Western Branch National Military Home, Leavenworth, KansasLeavenworth, KansasLeavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
- Confederate Soldiers' Home and Widows' and Orphans' Asylum, Georgetown, KentuckyGeorgetown, KentuckyGeorgetown is a city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,098 at the 2010 census. The original settlement of Lebanon, founded by Rev. Elijah Craig, was renamed in 1790 in honor of President George Washington. It is the home of Georgetown College, a private liberal arts...
- Kentucky Confederate Soldiers' HomePewee Valley Confederate CemeteryPewee Valley Confederate Cemetery is the site of the old Kentucky Confederate Home. The cemetery is not only on the National Register of Historic Places, but an individual monument within it, the Confederate Memorial in Pewee Valley, is separately on it as part of the Civil War Monuments of...
, Pewee Valley, KentuckyPewee Valley, KentuckyPewee Valley is a city in Oldham County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,436 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pewee Valley is located at .... - Soldiers’ Home of Louisiana a.k.a. Camp Nicholls Soldier's Home, New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
- Eastern Branch National Military Home, Togus, MaineTogus, MaineTogus is a facility operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in Chelsea, Maine. The facility was built as a resort hotel, and housed Union veterans of the American Civil War prior to being converted to a veterans hospital....
- Maryland Line Confederate Soldiers' Home, Pikesville, MarylandPikesville, MarylandPikesville is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. Pikesville is just northwest of the Baltimore city limits. It is the northwestern suburb closest to Baltimore.The population was 29,123 at the 2000 census...
- Discharged Soldiers' Home, Boston, Massachusetts
- Soldiers' Home, Chelsea, MassachusettsChelsea, MassachusettsChelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
- Michigan Soldiers' Home, Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
- Minnesota Veterans HomeMinnesota Veterans HomeThe Minnesota Soldiers' Home, later known as the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis, is an old soldiers' home near Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After the American Civil War and the devastation that it caused, there was sentiment that the United States should provide care for its...
, Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... - Beauvoir Confederate Soldiers' HomeBeauvoir (Biloxi, Mississippi)Beauvoir is the historic post-war home and Presidential library of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, begun in 1848 at Biloxi, Mississippi. The main house and library were badly damaged, and other outbuildings were destroyed during Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005...
a.k.a. Jefferson Davis Beauvoir Memorial Soldiers' Home, Biloxi, MississippiBiloxi, MississippiBiloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County.... - Biloxi Home [National Home] a.k.a. VA Medical Center, Biloxi, MississippiBiloxi, MississippiBiloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
- Missouri Confederate HomeConfederate Memorial State Historic SiteThe Confederate Memorial State Historic Site is located in Missouri, United States north of Higginsville. The park was established in 1952 on the site of the Confederate Soldiers Home of Missouri from 1891 to 1950....
, Higginsville, MissouriHigginsville, MissouriHigginsville is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri. The population was 4,682 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Higginsville is located at .... - Missouri State Federal Soldiers' Home, St. James, MissouriSt. James, MissouriSt. James is a city in Phelps County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,704 at the 2000 census.-Geography:St. James is located at...
- Montana State Soldiers' Home, Columbia Falls, MontanaColumbia Falls, MontanaColumbia Falls is a city in Flathead County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,645 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Columbia Falls is located at ....
- Soldiers and Sailors' Home, Grand Island, NebraskaGrand Island, NebraskaGrand Island is a city in and the county seat of Hall County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 48,520 at the 2010 census.Grand Island is home to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center which is the sole agency responsible for training law enforcement officers throughout the state,...
- Soldiers and Sailors' Home, Milford, NebraskaMilford, NebraskaMilford is a city in Seward County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Lincoln, Nebraska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,070 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Milford is located at ....
- New Hampshire Soldiers' Home, Tilton, New HampshireTilton, New HampshireTilton is a town located on the Winnipesaukee River in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,567 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of Lochmere. Tilton is home to the Tilton School, a private preparatory school.-History:...
- Home for Disabled SoldiersKearny Riverbank ParkKearny Riverbank Park is a municipal linear park along the Passaic River in Kearny, New Jersey. It is located in the Kearny Uplands north of Bergen Avenue and was extended to Belleville Turnpike in 2011 with brownfield reclamation projects...
, Kearny, New JerseyKearny, New JerseyKearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark.... - Veterans Memorial Home, Menlo Park, New Jersey
- Home for Disabled Soldiers, Newark, New JerseyNewark, New JerseyNewark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
- Veterans Memorial Home, Vineland, New JerseyVineland, New JerseyVineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
- New York State Soldiers and Sailors Home a.k.a. Bath Branch National Military Home, Bath, New YorkBath (village), New YorkBath is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 5,641 at the 2000 census. Bath is the county seat of Steuben County. The community was named either for the English city or for Lady Bath, daughter of William Pulteney, one of the original landowners.The Village of...
- State Women's Relief Corps HomeNew York State Veterans' Home at OxfordThe New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford is an old soldiers' home located east of the village of Oxford in Chenango County, New York. The home was established for American Civil War veterans and their wives so they would not be separated in old age...
a.k.a. New York State Veterans Home, Oxford, New YorkOxford, New YorkOxford is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The town contains a village named Oxford. Oxford is an interior town in the south-central part of the county, southwest of the City of Norwich. At the 2000 census the town population was 3,992... - Confederate Woman's Home, Fayetteville, North CarolinaFayetteville, North CarolinaFayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
- North Carolina Soldiers' Home, Raleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
- Soldiers Home, Lisbon, North DakotaLisbon, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,292 people, 948 households, and 571 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,019.7 people per square mile . There were 1,017 housing units at an average density of 452.4 per square mile...
- Central Branch National Soldiers' Home, Dayton, Ohio
- Soldiers' Home, Sandusky, OhioSandusky, OhioSandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
- Oklahoma Confederate Home a.k.a. Oklahoma Veterans Center, Ardmore, OklahomaArdmore, OklahomaArdmore is a business, cultural and tourism city in and the county seat of Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 24,283, while a 2007 estimate has the Ardmore micropolitan statistical area totaling 56,694 residents...
- Oklahoma Union Soldiers’ Home, Oklahoma City, OklahomaOklahoma City, OklahomaOklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
- Oregon State Soldiers' Home a.k.a. Roseburg Branch National Military Home, Roseburg, OregonRoseburg, OregonRoseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:...
- Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, Erie, PennsylvaniaErie, PennsylvaniaErie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
- Cooper Shop Soldiers’ Home, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
- Soldiers’ Home of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
- United States Naval HomePhiladelphia Naval AsylumThe Philadelphia Naval Asylum, later the Naval Home, was a hospital, the Philadelphia Naval School, and a home for retired sailors for the United States Navy from 1834 to 1976, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,... - Rhode Island Soldiers' Home, Bristol, Rhode IslandBristol, Rhode IslandBristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
- Confederate Home for Soldiers and Sailors a.k.a. South Carolina Confederate Infirmary, Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia, South CarolinaColumbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
- Battle Mountain Sanitarium National Military Home, Hot Springs, South DakotaHot Springs, South DakotaHot Springs is a city in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,711. It is the county seat of Fall River County...
- South Dakota State Soldiers' Home a.k.a. Michael J. Fitzmaurice Veterans Home, Hot Springs, South DakotaHot Springs, South DakotaHot Springs is a city in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,711. It is the county seat of Fall River County...
- Mountain Branch National Military Home, Johnson City, Tennessee
- Confederate Soldiers’ Home a.k.a. Tennessee Soldiers' Home, HermitageThe Hermitage (Nashville, Tennessee)The Hermitage is a historical plantation and museum located in Davidson County, Tennessee, USA, east of downtown Nashville. The plantation was owned by Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, from 1804 until his death at the Hermitage in 1845. Jackson only lived at the property...
(Nashville), TennesseeNashville, TennesseeNashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home... - Texas Confederate Home for Men, Austin, TexasAustin, TexasAustin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
- Texas Confederate Woman's Home, north of Austin, TexasAustin, TexasAustin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
- Vermont Soldiers' Home, Bennington, Vermont
- Southern Branch National Military Home, Hampton, VirginiaHampton, VirginiaHampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
- Virginia Confederate Soldiers' Home a.k.a. Lee Camp Soldiers' Home, Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
- Washington State Soldiers' Home, and Washington State Soldiers' Colony, Orting, WashingtonOrting, WashingtonOrting is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population as of the 2010 census is 6,746, according to the City of Orting.- History :...
- Washington Veterans' Home, Retsil, WashingtonRetsil, WashingtonRetsil is an unincorporated community in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is located on the Puget Sound, and is known for its veterans facilities. Retsil is located within the Parkwood CDP....
- Grand Army Home a.k.a. Wisconsin Veterans' Home, King, Waupaca County, WisconsinKing, Waupaca County, Wisconsin-External links:*...
- Northwestern Branch National Military Home, Wauwatosa, WisconsinWauwatosa, WisconsinWauwatosa is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, and was incorporated on May 27, 1897. As of the 2006 census estimate, the city's population was 44,798. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area...
(Milwaukee)Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the... - Wyoming State Home for Soldiers and Sailors (1895–1903), Cheyenne, WyomingCheyenne, WyomingCheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
- Wyoming State Home for Soldiers and Sailors (1903-now), Buffalo, WyomingBuffalo, WyomingBuffalo is a city in Johnson County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 3,900 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Johnson County...
Modern veterans homes
For information about modern veterans homes, nursing homes, and domiciliary facilities see- Armed Forces Retirement Home(s)
- National Association of County Veterans Service Officers
- National Association of State Veterans Homes
- VA's explanation of long term care availability: Geriatrics and Long Term Care
- Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivor, Chapter 1 VA Health Care Benefits, section on Nursing Home Care
- The VA has a section of its website devoted to geriatrics which includes information about long term care options
- P.J. Budahn, Veteran's Guide to Benefits, 4th ed. (Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 2005; Digitized by Google Book), 193-240.
- List of State Veterans Nursing Homes (scroll down for the list) (site charges fees for pension information: alternatively browse the VA's page explaining the Veterans pension)
- State Veterans Homes with Approved Sharing Agreements
External links
- Locating Old Soldiers Home Records in the United States before World War II, showing the name of each home, years of operation, some Internet links to related sites, and in some cases the known manuscript collections of their records.