History
Historical Overview
Explore the complete 150+ year saga from President Lincoln's vision to today's National Historic Landmark.
🏛️National Historic Landmark District
A Sacred Trust:
The Milwaukee Soldiers Home
Discover the enduring legacy of America's commitment to its military veterans at this National Historic Landmark District, where President Lincoln's vision continues to honor those who served after 150+ years of healing, community, and service.
Lincoln's Legacy Lives On
Founded through President Lincoln's Act of March 3, 1865—one of his final pieces of legislation—the Milwaukee Soldiers Home represents the nation's sacred promise “to care for him who shall have borne the battle.”
Established
1867
Northwestern Branch
150+ Years of Sacred Service
From Civil War veterans to today's heroes, the Milwaukee Soldiers Home continues its mission of healing and community.
📅
150+
Years of Service
Since Lincoln's Act of 1865
👥
50,000+
Veterans Served
From Civil War to present
📍
425
Campus Acres
Therapeutic landscape design
🏛️
48
Historic Buildings
Contributing structures
A Journey Through Time
From President Lincoln's vision to today's comprehensive veteran care, explore the remarkable evolution of America's commitment to those who served.
- 🎩1865
Lincoln's Sacred Trust
President Lincoln signs the act creating homes for disabled volunteer soldiers, one month before his assassination.
- 🏠1867
Milwaukee Opens
Northwestern Branch established on 425 acres, first veterans move to campus in May.
- 🏰1869
Old Main Completed
Edward Townsend Mix's Victorian Gothic masterpiece becomes the heart of the campus.
- 🏘️1880s-90s
Village Expansion
Henry C. Koch designs specialized buildings creating a true "recuperative village."
- 🏆2011
National Recognition
Designated National Historic Landmark District, one of only 43 in Wisconsin.
- ✨2021
Restoration Triumph
Old Main reopens as veteran housing after $44 million restoration, serving today's heroes.
Lincoln's Vision Continues: Modern Veteran Care
Today, the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center carries forward the sacred trust established in 1865, providing comprehensive healthcare to thousands of Wisconsin veterans on the historic Soldiers Home grounds and throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
🏥
376
Hospital Beds
Acute care, domiciliary, nursing home
📍
6
Healthcare Locations
Milwaukee plus 5 outpatient clinics
🏠
16
Fisher House Suites
Free family lodging
Comprehensive Healthcare Services
🏥 Medical Services
- • Primary Care & Specialty Health Services
- • Cancer Care & Treatment (Oncology)
- • Surgery & Surgical Specialties
- • Cardiology & Heart Care
- • Dentistry & Oral Surgery
- • Pharmacy Services (24/7 Support)
- • Audiology & Speech Pathology
- • Palliative & Hospice Care
🧠 Mental Health & Rehabilitation
- • Mental Health Care & Counseling
- • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment
- • Substance Abuse Recovery Programs
- • Extended Care & Rehabilitation
- • Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy
- • Blind Rehabilitation Services
- • Spinal Cord Injury Care
- • Polytrauma & TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)
📍 VA Milwaukee Healthcare System Locations
Milwaukee (Main Campus)
5000 W National Ave
245-acre historic campus
Appleton CBOC
Community-Based
Outpatient Clinic
Green Bay CBOC
Community-Based
Outpatient Clinic
Oconomowoc CBOC
Community-Based
Outpatient Clinic
Union Grove CBOC
Community-Based
Outpatient Clinic
Cleveland CBOC
Community-Based
Outpatient Clinic
🏠 Fisher House Milwaukee (Opened 2016)
A 13,000-square-foot facility with 16 private guest suites offering free lodging for families and caregivers of veterans hospitalized at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. Available to those living more than 50 miles from the facility.
💙 Fisher House provides a “home away from home” so families can be close to their loved ones during medical treatment—continuing the Soldiers Home's tradition of compassionate care.
📞 24/7 Clinical Support (2024)
Clinical triage service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To speak to a VA Health Connect professional, dial your VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic and select option 3 for Clinical Triage.
Explore Our Heritage
From architectural masterpieces to veteran stories, discover the rich tapestry of history that makes this National Historic Landmark District truly extraordinary.
Architecture
Buildings & Grounds
Discover the magnificent architecture by Edward Townsend Mix and Henry C. Koch in this therapeutic landscape.
Buildings
Chapel
Experience the spiritual heart designed by Henry C. Koch, serving veterans for over 130 years.
Culture
Ward Theater
Step into the historic Ward Memorial Theater that entertained legends like Bob Hope and Liberace.
🏗️Architectural Marvel
Victorian Gothic Grandeur Meets Therapeutic Design
Experience the architectural genius of Edward Townsend Mix's Old Main and Henry C. Koch's village of specialized buildings, all set within Thomas Budd Van Horn's therapeutic “Picturesque” landscape—the most intact example of 19th-century veteran care philosophy.
🏰
Old Main (1868-1869)
Edward Townsend Mix's Victorian Gothic masterpiece, now restored as veteran housing
🎭
Ward Memorial Theater (1881-1882)
Henry C. Koch's cultural hub that hosted legends like Bob Hope and Liberace
🌳
Therapeutic Landscape
Thomas Budd Van Horn's “recuperative village” design for healing and community
🏛️ Architectural Legacy
Old Main & Village Campus
Explore Edward Townsend Mix's Victorian Gothic masterpiece and the rehabilitated residential village now serving today's veterans.
🎭 Cultural Heritage
Ward Memorial Theater
Once filled with the music of Bob Hope and Liberace, this theater now stands as a reminder of the restorative power of arts and community.
Old Main Restoration
Completed 2021
Veteran Housing
101 Units
Campus Acreage
425 Acres
Plan Your Visit to Milwaukee
Visiting the Historic Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home? Find nearby accommodations and make your trip memorable while honoring our veterans' legacy.
Find Hotels in Milwaukee
🎖️ Special rates available for veterans and active military
📍 Searching hotels near Historic Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home
🎖️ Many Milwaukee hotels offer special rates for veterans, active military, and their families
Honor the Past, Serve the Present
Visit this National Historic Landmark District where President Lincoln's sacred promise continues. Walk through 150+ years of American military history and witness how historic preservation and veteran service unite in powerful purpose.
“To care for him who shall have borne the battle” — President Abraham Lincoln