Missouri Veterans Home – St. James – Missouri’s First Veterans Home - Celebrates 130 Years of Caring for Missouri Veterans

Jefferson City – On October 25, 2026, Missouri Veterans Home – St. James (MVH – St. James) marks a major milestone in Missouri’s long history of caring for its heroes as it celebrates its 130th anniversary. As the first state Veterans Home to open its doors in Missouri, MVH – St. James set the standard for honoring and caring for Missouri’s Veterans, a standard it continues to uphold, along with the other six Veterans Homes that subsequently opened in the state.

“For 130 years, Missouri Veterans Home – St. James has been a steadfast reminder of Missouri’s commitment to our heroes,” said Missouri Veterans Commission Executive Director Paul Kirchhoff. “As we celebrate this important anniversary, we look to the past with pride and look forward to a future of continuing a legacy of service.”

Since it opened, MVH – St. James’s philosophy those who share the common bond and honor of having served in their country’s armed services have the right to spend their autumn years in peace and security. That physical or intellectual infirmity must not be accompanied by a loss of dignity and respect.

For 130 years, MVH – St. James has honored the mission of the original Federal Soldiers Home to provide the best possible care in the best possible environment for those to whom this country is most indebted.

The original home, Dunmoor Mansion, was built in 1866 as a residence for the William James family. Thirty years later, the residence was converted to the Federal Soldiers Home by the Women’s Relief Corps and dedicated on October 25, 1896. In 1897, the Home was sold to the State of Missouri for $1 as a symbolic gesture of honoring its mission to care for Missouri’s heroes. It wasn’t until 1974 that the Home became part of the newly formed Missouri Veterans Commission under the 1974 Omnibus Reorganization Act. In 1977, the Home was officially renamed as the Missouri Veterans Home – St. James.

The Missouri Veterans Commission operates seven state Veterans Homes, five state Veterans Cemeteries, the Veterans Service Program and the Veterans Suicide Prevention Program. The Commission is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care for Veterans, seamlessly integrated with the Veteran community, emphasizing a culture of transparency and excellence. For more information about Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779 or visit mvc.dps.mo.gov. 

For more information, call 573-522-4228 or e-mail Aimee.Packard@mvc.dps.mo.gov