The exterior of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Dayton, Ohio.
Photo courtesy of Library of Congress
The National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Dayton, Ohio, was built in 1867. It is the largest of the three original soldiers homes created by the United States government after the end of the Civil War and was one of the earliest beginnings of federal rehabilitation programs for veterans. Dayton’s home took in both Black and white veterans, although the dining areas and living quarters were segregated.
The veterans were kept to a strict routine—wake-up call was at 5 a.m., and they didn’t hear “Taps” until about 9:30 p.m. The original property had many unusual architectural and landscape features, including an alligator pond and zoo, making it a popular attraction in the Midwest since its erection.
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The Great American Rail-Trail promises an all-new American experience. Through 12 states and the District of Columbia, the trail will directly serve nearly 50 million people within 50 miles of the route. Across the nation—and the world—only the limits of imagination will limit its use.
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