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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.