Train | Orphan

The was a massive social experiment in the United States that relocated an estimated 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children from crowded Eastern cities to rural homes in the Midwest and West. Lasting from 1854 to 1929, it is widely considered the precursor to the modern American foster care system. Core History & Origins

: Upon arrival, children were often lined up on a platform or in a town hall for prospective parents to inspect. This process was sometimes dehumanizing, with adults checking children’s teeth or muscles as if evaluating livestock. Placement Realities : Orphan Train

: 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" The was a massive social experiment in the

: 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 The Past is Prologue: The Orphan Train Movement