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| Orphan Train History |
Between 1854 and 1929 an estimated 200,000
orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children
were placed out in what is known today as the
Orphan Train Era. The name is derived from
the children's situations, though they were not all
orphans, and the mode of transportation used to
move them across 47 states and Canada.
When the orphan train movement began, it is
estimated that 30,000 abandoned children were
living on the streets of New York City.
Two charity institutions, The Children's Aid
Society and The New York Foundling Hospital,
determined to help these children.
The aid institutions developed a program that
placed homeless city children into homes
throughout the country. The children were
transported to their new homes on trains which
were eventually labeled “orphan trains.”
orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children
were placed out in what is known today as the
Orphan Train Era. The name is derived from
the children's situations, though they were not all
orphans, and the mode of transportation used to
move them across 47 states and Canada.
When the orphan train movement began, it is
estimated that 30,000 abandoned children were
living on the streets of New York City.
Two charity institutions, The Children's Aid
Society and The New York Foundling Hospital,
determined to help these children.
The aid institutions developed a program that
placed homeless city children into homes
throughout the country. The children were
transported to their new homes on trains which
were eventually labeled “orphan trains.”
This period of mass relocation of children in the United States is widely
recognized as the beginning of documented foster care in America.
recognized as the beginning of documented foster care in America.
New York Foundling Hospital Letters
Letters left on abandoned children by their mothers, or others who had found
them
Letters left on abandoned children by their mothers, or others who had found
them
The Children's Aid Society
How the Society began and their process of placing-out children
How the Society began and their process of placing-out children
The New York Foundling Hospital
How the Hospital began and their process of placing-out children
How the Hospital began and their process of placing-out children
Agents for the Children's Aid Society
The men and women who placed the children out on the Orphan Trains
The men and women who placed the children out on the Orphan Trains
Why Did the Orphan Trains Stop
State laws helped to stop the placement of children from the Orphan Trains
State laws helped to stop the placement of children from the Orphan Trains
Newspaper Articles and Documents
Articles from different state newspapers from the late 1800s and early 1900s,
advertisements, and placement letters from the orphanages
Articles from different state newspapers from the late 1800s and early 1900s,
advertisements, and placement letters from the orphanages
Opposition to the Orphan Trains
Letter published in the Cleveland Morning Ledger in 1857 describing the
opposition faced by one man who was taking orphans from New York to Illinois.
Letter published in the Cleveland Morning Ledger in 1857 describing the
opposition faced by one man who was taking orphans from New York to Illinois.
The Orphan Train Experience
What was it like to ride the Orphan Trains? What did the Riders feel like?
What was it like to ride the Orphan Trains? What did the Riders feel like?