National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Northwestern Branch, 5000 West National Ave Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI
Established by Congress in 1865 and developed as a network of eleven branches across the country, the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (NHDVS) established a policy of veteran`s benefits that directly influenced the development of a national system for veteran`s health care in the United States. The NHDVS was a notable departure from the previous focus on care for professional soldiers and officially set forth the concern and commitment of the federal government for the well-being of the civilian soldier. The architecture and landscape architecture of the NHDVS branches reflects development of the institution, and the goal of providing residences and care to war veterans. The highly visible NHDVS branches reminded citizens of the federal government`s support of veterans and helped forge a link between the public and the government. In 1930, the NHDVS was absorbed into the newly created Veterans Administration. With the transition, the practice of establishing and developing individual branches with unique architecture and landscapes ended as these past policies gave way to standardization. This report documents the national significance of the NHDVS from 1865-1930, and evaluates the National Historic Landmark eligibility of the eleven branches for that period.
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Northwestern Branch, 5000 West National Ave Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI
Established by Congress in 1865 and developed as a network of eleven branches across the country, the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (NHDVS) established a policy of veteran`s benefits that directly influenced the development of a national system for veteran`s health care in the United States. The NHDVS was a notable departure from the previous focus on care for professional soldiers and officially set forth the concern and commitment of the federal government for the well-being of the civilian soldier. The architecture and landscape architecture of the NHDVS branches reflects development of the institution, and the goal of providing residences and care to war veterans. The highly visible NHDVS branches reminded citizens of the federal government`s support of veterans and helped forge a link between the public and the government. In 1930, the NHDVS was absorbed into the newly created Veterans Administration. With the transition, the practice of establishing and developing individual branches with unique architecture and landscapes ended as these past policies gave way to standardization. This report documents the national significance of the NHDVS from 1865-1930, and evaluates the National Historic Landmark eligibility of the eleven branches for that period.
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Library of Congress
Source Website
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Northwestern Branch, Main Building, 5000 West National Ave Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI
The Main Building was constructed in 1868-69 and designed by prominent Milwaukee architect Edward Townsend Mix. It was the primary purpose-built structure for the Northwestern Branch of the National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (renamed National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in 1873). This new federal institution was authorized by Congress in 1865 and charged with caring for Civil War veterans disabled by their military service. That the Northwestern Branch was located in Milwaukee in 1866 was largely due to the fundraising and organization already completed by the Wisconsin Soldiers` Home Society. The Milwaukee women who spearheaded this effort donated $95,000 to the cause and a picturesque campus was established west of the city. Mix`s design for the new Soldiers` Home building was a Victorian Gothic pile with a tall central tower and large flanking wings, prominently placed on a ridge looking east toward the city. Originally intended to be a multipurpose structure housing living quarters, mess hall, kitchen, chapel, offices, and recreation facilities, the Main Building was almost immediately too small for the demands of veterans care, in spite of its impressive size. The end towers, a modification of those omitted during the original building campaign, were added in 1875-76 to expand the living space. Shortly thereafter, expansion of the Northwestern Branch focused on adding new purpose-built structures, including a hospital (1879), theater and home store (1881), chapel (1889), library (1891), and headquarters building with post office (1895). With many of these functions now removed from this structure, living quarters were expanded accordingly and the structure continued to function as a "domiciliary" with bedrooms, mess hall, and common areas until the 1980s.
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Northwestern Branch, Main Building, 5000 West National Ave Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI
The Main Building was constructed in 1868-69 and designed by prominent Milwaukee architect Edward Townsend Mix. It was the primary purpose-built structure for the Northwestern Branch of the National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (renamed National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in 1873). This new federal institution was authorized by Congress in 1865 and charged with caring for Civil War veterans disabled by their military service. That the Northwestern Branch was located in Milwaukee in 1866 was largely due to the fundraising and organization already completed by the Wisconsin Soldiers` Home Society. The Milwaukee women who spearheaded this effort donated $95,000 to the cause and a picturesque campus was established west of the city. Mix`s design for the new Soldiers` Home building was a Victorian Gothic pile with a tall central tower and large flanking wings, prominently placed on a ridge looking east toward the city. Originally intended to be a multipurpose structure housing living quarters, mess hall, kitchen, chapel, offices, and recreation facilities, the Main Building was almost immediately too small for the demands of veterans care, in spite of its impressive size. The end towers, a modification of those omitted during the original building campaign, were added in 1875-76 to expand the living space. Shortly thereafter, expansion of the Northwestern Branch focused on adding new purpose-built structures, including a hospital (1879), theater and home store (1881), chapel (1889), library (1891), and headquarters building with post office (1895). With many of these functions now removed from this structure, living quarters were expanded accordingly and the structure continued to function as a "domiciliary" with bedrooms, mess hall, and common areas until the 1980s.
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Library of Congress
Source Website
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Northwestern Branch, Ward Memorial Hall, 5000 West National Ave Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI
- The original drawings transmitted the the Library of Congress in 2010 contained errors and were replaced by corrected drawings in 2013.
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Library of Congress
