Vermont Veterans' Home in Bennington in Bennington County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
Vermont Veterans' Home
In 1884, the State General Assembly authorized an initial $10,000 appropriation to establish a soldiers’ home to care for disabled veterans of the Civil War. The former country estate of Seth B. Hunt, erected in 1860, was chosen. The Soldiers’ Home of Vermont opened on April 1, 1887, with 25 veterans. The 200-acre site included a working farm for able members. In the 1880s, the first building campaign expanded the barracks and added a chapel and hospital facility. The original one-acre cemetery was enlarged to 17 acres, interring more than 300 veterans. The capital construction program of the 1960s added a social hall, new chapel, new barrack wings, dining hall, and the first veterans nursing home care unit in the U.S.
In 1898, soldiers of the Mexican and Spanish Wars and every subsequent conflict were granted admission to the Soldiers’ Home. By the 1960s, the focus shifted from domiciliary care to long-term extended care with facilities for 159 veterans. The Soldiers’ Home of Vermont was renamed the Vermont Veterans’ Home in 1971. Today, the Vermont Veterans’ Home is the second oldest operating state veterans’ home in the U.S. and the only veterans’ home in Vermont. The State continues to honor our nation’s veterans by providing a home, community, and exceptional health care at this site. Memorial areas honor Vermont Medal of Honor winners, Gold Star Mothers, and Vermont veterans from all of our nation’s conflicts since the Civil War.
Erected 2016 by Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation Markers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 1, 1887.
Location. 42° 53.219′ N, 73° 11.809′ W. Marker is in Bennington, Vermont, in Bennington County. It is in Vermont Veterans' Home. It can be reached from the intersection of North Street (U.S. 7) and Depot Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located in the Vermont Veterans' Home parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 325 North Street, Bennington VT 05201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Vermont. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Vermont Republic.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gold Star Mothers Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Medal of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); Vermont Veterans' Home Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); The Silver Rose (within shouting distance of this marker); Vermont is a State I Love (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Textile Mill Office (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bennington.
Also see . . . Vermont Veterans' Home. (Submitted on October 4, 2017.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2017, by Dennis Gilkenson of Saxtons River, Vermont. This page has been viewed 555 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 4, 2017, by Dennis Gilkenson of Saxtons River, Vermont. 3. submitted on October 4, 2017. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.


