Indianapolis Veterans Administration Hospital

The Indianapolis Veterans Administration Hospital, a closed medical center in Indianapolis, Indiana, was established in 1931 with the support of Congressman Louis L. Ludlow and local veterans groups. It was the first general medical and surgical facility for veterans in the state.

The Indianapolis Veterans Administration Hospital, a closed medical center in Indianapolis, Indiana, was established in 1931 with the support of Congressman Louis L. Ludlow and local veterans groups. ² It was the first general medical and surgical facility for veterans in the state.

Built at a cost of $500,000 on 30 acres donated by William Fortune, the hospital features 15 historic buildings, including the Main Hospital Building (completed in 1931), the Kitchen/Mess Hall/Boiler House/Attendants’ Quarters and General Medical Building (added in 1939), and the Recreation Building (built in 1941). ¹ The Nurses’ Quarters and officers’ duplex were constructed in 1931, with additional structures following in the years up to 1938. Designed by architect Randolph Talbert, these early buildings showcase Colonial Revival and Classical Revival styles.

From 1932 to 1939, the hospital expanded its capacity from 172 to 342 beds. ² However, by the end of World War II, overcrowding became a serious issue. To address this, a new 500-bed facility was established on West 10th Street near the Indiana University School of Medicine. During its construction, the former Billings U.S. Army General Hospital at Fort Benjamin Harrison served as a temporary VA hospital from 1946 to 1953. The new hospital opened in 1952, while the original hospital was repurposed as a special tuberculosis treatment center the following year.

In 1952, a laundry and warehouse/storage building was added, ¹ and in 1965, the second floor was converted into a nursing home care unit. ² After the addition of a renal dialysis unit and an intermediate care unit in 1967, the hospital was reclassified as a general medical and surgical facility, becoming the last VA hospital designated for tuberculosis. A single-story warehouse was built in 1993, ¹ and in 1995, a four-story clinic was constructed adjacent to the General Medical Building.

Both the Cold Spring Road and West 10th Street campuses were renamed the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center to honor former Indiana Congressman Richard L. Roudebush. ² Despite $20 million in recent renovations, the Cold Spring Road campus, which had expanded to include psychiatric and addiction services, was slated for closure in 1995 and was taken over by the Larue Carter Hospital in 1996.

The Indianapolis Veterans Administration Hospital (Larue Carter Hospital) campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. In 2019, the new Neuro-Diagnostic Institute opened on East 16th Street, replacing the services previously provided by Larue Carter Hospital, with patient transfers completed by March 20 of that year. ³