File:Soldiers' Home - Roose's companion and guide to Washington and vicinity (1887) (14793918403) (cropped).jpg

Identifier: roosescompaniong07wyet (find matches)
Title: Roose's companion and guide to Washington and vicinity
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors: Wyeth, S. D. (Samuel Douglas) Roose, Williams S. (from old catalog)
Subjects:
Publisher: (Washington, D.C.) Gibson brothers, printers
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
story.
THE ORDNANCE OFFICE also is on the second floor, connected
with which is an exceedingly interesting MUSEUM.
The rooms above are used by the SECOND AUDITOR OF THE
TREASURY.

The Arsenal
is at the foot of 4£ st. s. w., and is accessible by horse rail-cars.
The grounds are beautifully laid out, and many objects of inter-
est are here open for inspection. As early as 1803 it was a mili-
tary station, and in 1814 it was one of the places destroyed by
the British. In 1815, under Col. George Bomford, it was re-
built. The Chief of Ordnance resides here. (See Reservation
No. 5.)

SOLDIERS' HOME.
This institution is, in object, somewhat similar to that of the
Hotel des Invalides at Paris. To Gen. Winfield Scott is the mili-
tary service indebted, in great part, for the suggestion and en-
dowment of the Soldiers' Home.
March 3, 1851, not long after the termination of the Mex-
ican war, Congress donated $118,719, the unused balance in the
Treasury of the sum levied by Gen. Scott on the City of Mexico.
Text Appearing After Image:

Ford's Theatre, now Army Medical Museum

Soldiers' Home.

90

to aid in the establishment of the Home. To this sum is added
forfeitures, stoppages, and fines, and a tax of 12 cents a month
(formerly 25 cents) on each private soldier.
The main building is of marble, 200 ft. front. There are also
several beautiful marble cottages, the residences of the officers,
and the former Riggs homestead, clustered near it. In summer-
time Presidents Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, Hayes,
and Arthur resided here. President Cleveland also spends a
portion of the warm weather at this beautiful retreat.
A new hospital has been eiected within the grounds.
There is here, on the brow of the hill, a bronze statue of Gen.
Scott, 10 ft. high, facing the city, by Launt Thompson, erected
by the Home in 187-4 ; cost $18,000.
The grounds embrace 500 acres, and are most beautifully laid
out. The drive within the enclosure extends 7 miles.
Disabled private soldiers of the regular army are entitled to the
benefits of the Home; during their stay their pensions are
stopped.
The Home is three miles north of the Capitol. The tower of
the main building affords the most beautiful of views, the Capi-
tol being a main feature in the landscape. On a clear day the
top of Su gar-Loaf mountain can be discerned in the far distance.
Horse-cars connect with, and convey passengers from, the
terminus of the Seventh-street route to within a short distance
of the Home..

Note About Images