AVHC Preservation Projects

The first major task is to preserve and maintain the Soldiers Home Chapel. The Civil War veterans who lived at the Soldiers Home built this amazing structure in 1870. These veterans, many of them disabled, quarried the limestone themselves from the Soldiers Home grounds. This is the first permanent Chapel ever built by the United States Government.

In July 1998, the Chapel floor had deteriorated so much that it was closed to the public. Our first priority, therefore, was to repair and restore the flooring to allow the building to re-open to the public. The Chapel, however, is merely the first step in a much larger undertaking to honor our nation’s veterans. We plan to renovate the 1871 Headquarters Building, where the model of management used by all National Soldiers Homes originated, the wonderfully crafted Patient Library Building which dates to 1880 and was used until May, 2000, and the 1881 Clubhouse.

The AVHC will allow the buildings to serve their original purposes when possible, especially the Chapel and the Library. The AVHC intends to preserve the buildings for use as a national veterans museum, educational centers, and conference facilities. Although we've successfully completed much-needed repairs to the Chapel floor, there's much more work to be done. Donated funds will be used to cover the costs of the entire scope, which is estimated to total $17 million.

The dedication and enthusiastic support of our community and the strong support of veterans nationwide proves the importance of this noble project. Therefore the AVHC has agreed to preserve the best of our past ...by improving the present... to create a better future. Together, with your donation and support, we will realize this vision to honor our nation’s veterans.

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