: It explores rootlessness, the search for identity, and the shared trauma of being "unwanted" across different generations. Quick Facts Duration : 1854–1929 (75 years).
The history of the Orphan Train has been revitalized in popular culture, most notably by Christina Baker Kline in her 2013 novel . Orphan Train
: Children were sent in batches by rail to predetermined stops in the Midwest. : It explores rootlessness, the search for identity,
: Many children were legally adopted, treated as beloved family members, and given education and opportunities they never would have had. : Children were sent in batches by rail
: While the Children's Aid Society was the largest, other groups like the New York Foundling Hospital and the New York Juvenile Asylum also participated. The Journey and "Selection"
: In the mid-19th century, cities like New York and Boston faced a crisis of "street children"—tens of thousands of homeless youth living in poverty, often turning to crime or facing starvation.
: You can visit the National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia, Kansas, which serves as a museum and research center for descendants. The Past is Prologue: The Orphan Train Movement