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AMERICAN LAKE VA MEDICAL CENTER The American Lake campus began in 1923 as the 94th Veterans Hospital to be built by the War Department for the provision of care to World War I Veterans. The

Secretary of the Army authorized, under a revocable license, the Veteran Bureau's use of 377 acres of the 87,000 acre Fort Lewis property. The Hurley-Mason Company was awarded contracts

for the construction of the facility and work was soon started on Veterans Hospital Number 94. A site chosen on the western shores of American Lake soon became home for the new buildings of

Spanish American architecture. Many of the stucco and terra cotta buildings are listed on the National Register of Historical Buildings, and are still enjoyed by both patients and staff for

their esthetic beauty. The medical center was dedicated in 1924 and chartered with a single mission - neuro-psychiatric treatment. On March 15, 1924, the first 50 patients were admitted to

the hospital, by transfer, from Western State Hospital at Fort Steilacoom. Over the years, American Lake grew from its original mission of a neuro-psychiatric facility, to a multi-care

facility. In the 1960's and 1970's Ambulatory Surgical Services, a 76-bed Nursing Home Unit, Blind Rehabilitation Services, a Substance Abuse Treatment Program, and a 60-bed

homeless Domiciliary were added to expand the scope of care to Veterans. In the 1980's and 1990's, additional special programs such as Vocational Rehabilitation, a Residential Care

Program, and a Post Traumatic Stress Treatment Program were added. In 1998, Building 81 was renovated and an addition added that allowed for relocation and expansion of Primary Care

Services and a Women's Health Clinic. Ongoing remodeling, upgrading and expansion of the facilities will occur while preserving the historical character of this beautiful campus.