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History

Explore the rich heritage of the VA Hines Healthcare System.

Association.1915 - First derby held on the Speedway Racetrack. From 1915 to 1917 as many as 45,000 spectators saw Dorio Resta, Louis Chevrolet, Ralph DePalma and Barney Oldfield race here.

1917 - Track and land sold to Edward Hines, Sr.  who donated it to the Public Health Service for construction of a convalescent hospital to serve injured servicemen from World War I.1921 -

The Public Health Services designated the new facility PHS Hospital 76 and the first patients were admitted on August 8th. However, Congress created the Veterans Bureau on the same day and

Hospital #76 was transferred to the Veterans Bureau. President Warren G. Harding designated the hospital to be called Edward Hines, Jr. Memorial Hospital.Lt. Edward Hines, Jr. was the first

graduate of the officers training camp at Ft. Sheridan to die in service in France.  On November 6, 1921, Marshall Foch of France dedicated the hospital.1926 - The first air mail flight from

Hines Airmail Terminal was flown by Captain Charles A. Lindbergh. Lindbergh flew the first solo transatlantic flight in 1927. 1930 - The hospital was redesignated as Veterans Administration

Facility Edward Hines, Jr. Center.1944 - Vaughan General Hospital's first building opened on 100 acres of land on the east side of the Hines' campus. A total of 12,214 patients

received care at Vaughan while it was under the auspices of the U.S. Army Medical Corps.1945 - President Harry S. Truman authorized the transfer of Vaughan General Hospital to the Veterans

Administration. It became part of Edward Hines, Jr. on April 1, 1946.1946 - Hines is the first VA Hospital to affiliate with a Medical School, Northwestern University, leading the way for

the close integration of the VA's medical program with the nations' medical schools.1964 - John J. Madden Health Zone Center erected on the northeast corner of the Hines'

campus. 1962 - Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine purchases a portion of the Hines property from the government by way of a quit claim deed. The Medical school opened January 1,

1968.1970 - Blind Rehabilitation Center moved to Building 13 from its original location on property, now occupied by Loyola. In October, Building 200, the new hospital building, was

dedicated.1973 - Loyola University Hospital dedicated and designated Foster G. McGaw Hospital.1982 - Dedication of Extended Care Center.1989 - With the creation of the Department of Veterans

Affairs, the hospital became Department of Veterans Affairs Edward Hines, Jr. Hospital.1990 - Residential Care Facility dedicated. New Psychiatry building opened.1995 - A Ronald McDonald

House, near Loyola, opened on Hines' south campus. 2001 - Opened AMVETS Center in Hines Extended Care Center 2003 - Begin construction on new Comprehensive Rehabilitation

Center (Spinal Cord Injury and Blind Rehabilitation)

Last updated: March 10, 2025

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