G.A.R. Drum Corps, 1906

The G.A.R. grew slowly at first, but in the 1880s membership climbed dramatically. The George H. Thomas post, the first in Chicago, was chartered in 1873 and remained the city's largest. By 1890 at least 13 had been chartered, including the John Brown post for African American veterans. The Grand Army Hall, a Civil War museum and G.A.R. meeting place, was a component of the Chicago Public Library building (1897) on Michigan Avenue.

Membership declined with the passing of Union veterans, but as late as 1914 Chicago had 23 posts with a combined roster of over two thousand.

David T. Thackery