The Iowa Veterans Home has always been recognized as a home for the state of Iowa veterans and their spouses who meet eligibility requirements for admission.

The Iowa Soldiers Home accepted its first resident in 1887 when the facility provided living quarters for displaced veterans of the War Between the States. Management of the home resembled life patterned after Army rules and regulations. Residents wore uniforms, marched in formation, stood inspections, ate at a mess hall, and went to bed at taps. They slept in open wards and needed passes to get by the sentry at the gates.

The residents' work contributed to the Home's self-sufficiency. Residents raised cattle and hogs, harvested and stored fruit and vegetables on a little over 160 acres. There was housing for the Commandant, Quartermaster, Adjutant, Surgeon, and the nurses available on campus.

The present-day focus of the Iowa Veterans Home--to provide professionally managed health care for aging veterans--began to emerge in 1890's with construction of the first infirmary. Six years later, a larger infirmary was built to satisfy the Home's increasing resident/patient population. Throughout the years, the Veterans Home continued to update the physical plan and provide the necessary clinical expertise to meet the ever-increasing health care needs for individuals admitted for care.

Today with veterans living longer and requiring a wide range of health care service, skilled care is an important service offered by the Home.

History of IVH

PowerPoint presentation

Genealogy

Over the years the Iowa Veterans Home has collected microfilmed records from the first admission in November of 1887 to the most recent admission records. The microfilmed records present an interesting collection of historic, veteran-related images and data.

The IVH is dedicated to the preservation of Iowa's veteran-related heritage. The mission of the microfilm collection project is to make genealogy resources available and useful to the public and provide a way for those interested in connecting with their personal history. People can learn much about themselves by learning about their past. It is always interesting to see how much alike or different from their ancestors people are.

People often say that finding their ancestors helps them find themselves. Genealogy is defined as “an account or history of the descent of a person or family from an ancestor; enumeration of ancestors and their children in the natural order of succession; a pedigree.”

If you are interested in finding your individual account of history—your ancestors or family members and learning more about them—please direct your genealogy inquiries to Roxy West or call 641-753-4391.

Files for genealogy research are available at the cost of fifty cents per page.

For information regarding veterans buried at the Iowa Veterans Home Cemetery, please click here.

Tours

IVH Tours Hotline: 1-800-645-4591

We want everyone interested in IVH to have an opportunity to visit and learn more about our facility. Please call the “IVH Tours Hotline” at the number above, and you will be connected to the IVH Tour line. The Tour Line will direct you to a call processing menu where you’ll get three options to choose from. Depending on the nature of your tour request, the designated department either will take down your information or return your call to arrange for your visit.

In the event of unexpected or unscheduled drop-ins for tours, including night and weekend visits, IVH cannot guarantee the tour. In such cases, IVH will provide handouts and materials, describing the Iowa Veterans Home, and a supporting video or a DVD for your viewing.