The National Park Service's Heritage Education Services and Federal Preservation Institute, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs Historic Preservation Office, the National Preservation Institute, and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, proudly invite you to explore the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. This Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary highlights the 11 branches of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, all of which are listed or have been determined eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

All 11 branches of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers are active Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Visitors to these facilities can view the historic buildings and landscapes in addition to providing valuable volunteer services to assist the veterans and the historic resources at the facilities.

Quick Facts: • The National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was comprised of 11 branches. • Built after the Civil War to care for Union veterans, these 11 National Home branches were managed by an independent, Congressionally appointed Board of Managers. • The newly created Veterans Administration took over management responsibilities for the 11 branches in 1930. • In 1989, the Veterans Administration was elevated to a Cabinet-level Department, now called the Department of Veterans Affairs. • The Department of Veterans Affairs manages more than 1,500 facilities located in all 50 States and 5 American territories. • For more information, see the VA website.

The National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers travel itinerary offers several ways to discover and experience the historic places that shaped and illustrate the history and development of the National Home branches and the Department of Veterans Affairs:

• Descriptions of each featured branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers on the List of Sites highlight its significance, photographs and other illustrations, and information on how to visit.

• Essays with background on important themes in the development of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers offer context for understanding historic places featured in the itinerary. Visitors can read about the History of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Daily Life at the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, and Volunteering at Veterans Affairs Facilities

• Maps help visitors plan what to see and do and get directions to historic places to visit.

• A Learn More section provides links to relevant websites such as tourism websites with information on cultural events and activities, other things to see and do, and dining and lodging possibilities. This section also provides a bibliography.

View the itinerary online or print it as a guide if you plan to visit in person. The National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers itinerary, the 50^th in this ongoing series, is part of the Department of the Interior, National Park Service's strategy to promote public awareness of history and encourage visits to historic places throughout the nation. The itineraries are created by a partnership of the National Park Service; the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers; and Federal, State, and local governments and private organizations in communities, regions, and heritage areas throughout the United States. The itineraries help people everywhere learn about and plan trips to visit the amazing diversity of this country's historic places which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The National Park Service and its partners hope you enjoy this itinerary and others in the series. If you have any comments or questions, please just click on “comments or questions" at the bottom of each page.