"Old Main"

This morning we drove to the VA Hospital to visit my uncle. To get there, we drove right past "Old Main", one of my most favorite buildings in Milwaukee! This is the view of it from the parking lot of the hospital, and I can't help but think that this view of the building must look the same as when it was first built between 1867 & 1869. 
It's part of a complex that was built for Veterans of the Civil War (the womens society who raised the money to begin building this wanted a beautiful, peaceful place of refuge and recuperation for those physically and mentally disabled from the fighting) and the complex included a commanders house, a chapel, an infirmary, a stable, a cemetery (now known as Wood National Cemetery) and "Old Main", which housed dormitories, resident support facilities, and the administrative offices. 
By 2011 the complex was falling apart and there was talk of tearing it down, but that produced such a huge public outcry that in 2012 it was given "National Treasure" status. An historic $40 million dollar tax credit project was begun, and slowly but surely 6 buildings in the complex are being rehabbed for adaptive reuse. When completed, Old Main will provide more than 100 apartments for veterans and their families---I think it's only fitting!!  :)) 
I put a few pics in the extras--the first is the fountain, built in 1869 & repaired last year (the metal structure you see to the left of the fountain in the distance is the retracted roof of Miller Park Stadium--home of the Milwaukee Brewers--major league baseball team). The second is a closer view of two of the towers, and the third is the old infirmary with its rather decrepit  "Milwaukee, Wi" sign.