The Confederate Veterans Home

The Confederate Veterans Home in Austin, Texas, opened in 1886 to provide care for indigent and disabled Confederate veterans who had served in the Civil War. Located on land donated by the city, the facility offered shelter, food, and medical care to veterans who were unable to support themselves in their later years. Initially operated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and later by the state, the home expanded over the decades to accommodate the growing number of aging veterans. At its peak, the facility housed hundreds of veterans. The home remained in operation until 1963, when the last residents either passed away or were transferred to other facilities. Veterans who died while living at the Confederate Veterans Home were buried in the Texas State Cemetery, where many of their graves are marked with distinctive headstones honoring their service. The cemetery remains a significant site of remembrance for Texas' Civil War veterans.

The Confederate Women’s Home in Austin, Texas, was established in 1908 to care for the widows and female family members of Confederate veterans. Spearheaded by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and supported by the state, the home provided a safe haven for women who had lost their husbands or sons in the Civil War or whose loved ones had passed away in the years following. The facility offered housing, meals, and medical care for elderly women who had no other means of support. Over the years, the home expanded to accommodate the growing need, becoming a vital part of Texas’ efforts to care for its Confederate heritage. The home operated until 1963, when the last residents left the facility. Many of the women who passed away while living there were buried in the Texas State Cemetery, where their graves, alongside their husbands, offer a poignant reminder of their sacrifices during and after the Civil War.