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Iowa Veterans Home
Iowa Veterans Home
Marshalltown, Iowa
History of the Home
The Iowa Veterans Home has steadily progressed both in purpose and in physical growth, during its long and illustrious history as a home for the State's veterans and/or dependent surviving spouses who meet the eligibility requirements for admission.
The Iowa Soldier's Home accepted its first resident in 1887 when the facility provided living quarters for displaced veterans of the War Between the States. Management of the home resembled life patterned after Army post rules and regulations. Residents wearing Home uniforms marched in formation, stood inspections, rose at reveille, ate at a mess hall, and went to bed at taps. They slept in open wards and needed passes to get by the sentry at the gates.
The men's work contributed to the Home's near self-sufficiency. They raised cattle and hogs and harvested and stored fruit, vegetables and even ice all on a little over 160 acres. There was also housing for the Commandant, Quartermaster, Adjutant, Surgeon, and the nurses.
The present-day focus of the Iowa Veterans Home to provide professionally managed health care for aging veterans began to emerge in 1890 with construction of the first infirmary. Six years later a larger infirmary was built to satisfy the Home's increasing resident/patient population. Throughout the years, the Veterans Home has continued to update the physical plant and provide the necessary clinical expertise to meet the ever-increasing health care need for those individuals admitted for care.
Today with veterans living longer and requiring a wide range of health care service, skilled care is an important service offered by the Home.
Iowa Veterans Home
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