Reno in Washoe County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center
Photographed by Aubrey Garrard
1. Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center Marker
Inscription.
Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center. . The first medical facility for veterans in Reno was established by the Veterans' Bureau in 1921. The facility had one doctor and a nurse. In 1934, Reno attorney and American Legion National Committeeman Ioannis A. Lougaris began working with other veterans' organizations to secure a veterans' hospital for Nevada. The largest area in the country without one, funding and Nevada's small population hindered efforts until 1936, when Congress approved $100,000 for a new facility. Lougaris was honored by being the first to break ground on the hospital on December 17th, 1937. The three-story PWA Moderne style building opened in 1939 with 24 patients beds., Technical advancements and the United States' entry into World War II soon proved the hospital inadequate. Lougaris campaigned to enlarge the hospital. But only with President Truman's approval was funding secured. The expansion opened on September 30, 1947 after wartime shortages and delays with a six-story building attached to the east side of the original hospital. It contained 125 beds with emergency capacity of 215. The hospital has been expanded several times since 1962. In 1981 it was renamed The Ioannis A. Lougaris Veterans' Medical Center for Lougaris' signficiant efforts on behalf of Nevada Veterans.
The first medical facility for veterans in Reno was established by the Veterans' Bureau in 1921. The facility had one doctor and a nurse. In 1934, Reno attorney and American Legion National Committeeman Ioannis A. Lougaris began working with other veterans' organizations to secure a veterans' hospital for Nevada. The largest area in the country without one, funding and Nevada's small population hindered efforts until 1936, when Congress approved $100,000 for a new facility. Lougaris was honored by being the first to break ground on the hospital on December 17th, 1937. The three-story PWA Moderne style building opened in 1939 with 24 patients beds.
Technical advancements and the United States' entry into World War II soon proved the hospital inadequate. Lougaris campaigned to enlarge the hospital. But only with President Truman's approval was funding secured. The expansion opened on September 30, 1947 after wartime shortages and delays with a six-story building attached to the east side of the original hospital. It contained 125 beds with emergency capacity of 215. The hospital has been expanded several times since 1962.
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In 1981 it was renamed The Ioannis A. Lougaris Veterans' Medical Center for Lougaris' signficiant efforts on behalf of Nevada Veterans.
Erected 2024 by State Historic Preservation Office and VASNHCS Reno. (Marker Number 272.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.
Location. 39° 30.976′ N, 119° 48.022′ W. Marker is in Reno, Nevada, in Washoe County. It is at the intersection of Locust Street and Crampton Street, on the right when traveling north on Locust Street. On the west side of the Ioannis A. Lougaris Veterans' Hospital grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 Locust Street, Reno NV 89502, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada and in the Lake Tahoe Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2026, by Aubrey Garrard of Reno, Nevada. This page has been viewed 21 times since then. Photos:1. submitted on May 20, 2026, by Aubrey Garrard of Reno, Nevada. 2. submitted on June 29, 2026, by Ysterdad of Concord, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
