History

Tucson VA Medical Center

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS), previously known as the Tucson VA Medical Center, began its existence in an abandoned popular recreation spot, located about 13 miles north of town along the road to Oracle Junction.  This recreation spot known as Pastime Park, featured at different times, a skating rink, bowling alley, dance hall, and a notorious roadside tavern.

By late summer 1919, the end of World War I (WWI) brought over three million veterans back into society.  An estimated 50,000 WWI veterans suffered from debilitating respiratory ailments.

Through the efforts of men such as Dr. Neill MacArtan, the first director at the temporary facility at Pastime Park and Orville McPherson, a civic booster, attention was brought to the needs of the veterans being treated at the temporary hospital.  Their efforts were joined by business and fraternal associations, church groups and social clubs.  Eventually Tucson was able to provide medical services to the many veterans coming here because of the climate and obtained federal funds to support this cause. 

The initial hospital began with three existing buildings at Pastime Park.  One brick building housed the boiler and two adobe buildings were used as a ward and a kitchen.  Over the years, the facility grew to a total of 86 buildings.  The staff included Dr. MacArtan, a head nurse, and two ward nurses.  The facility faced great financial and negative publicity challenges.  Then on February 9, 1922, Dr. MacArtan at the age of 40 passed away.  By this time the facility had reached its greatest level of development and remained this way until the new hospital opened.

Through the efforts of community leaders and organizations such as the American Legion Morgan McDermott Post #7 , the Disabled American Veterans, the Chamber of Commerce and businessman Albert Steinfeld’s offer of 116 acres south of town as a donation for a construction site.  Congress approved a formal offer for a new hospital. The groundbreaking took place October 4, 1927.  On August 28, 1928, Veteran’s Hospital #51 opened its doors.

Today, the Tucson VA’s main campus located on the south side of Tucson, Arizona  is a state of the art medical facility that will continue to care for our Nation’s Veterans well into the future.