Togus VA Medical Center, facility operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in Chelsea, Maine
Togus VA Medical Center is a veterans hospital and memorial site in Chelsea, Maine, with roots in the 1800s. The campus includes an active medical facility, a national cemetery containing graves of soldiers from multiple wars, and buildings dating from the late 1800s through the early 1900s.
Founded in 1866, it was the first federal home for disabled soldiers after the Civil War in the United States. It evolved from a housing facility into a modern hospital and played a central role in shaping veteran care in America.
The name Togus comes from a Native American word meaning 'mineral water'. The grounds once functioned as a summer resort before the government transformed them into a center for honoring and caring for veterans.
The grounds are expansive and include both historic and modern structures, so allow enough time to explore. The visitor center or information desk near the entrance can provide orientation and details about which areas are open to the public.
The grounds were originally a mineral water resort called Togus Springs that failed before being revived as a veterans center. Today, the Beals House, named after the original owner, offers free temporary lodging for families visiting sick or injured veterans.
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