Orphan Train -

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

: Children were sent in batches by rail to predetermined stops in the Midwest. Orphan Train

: 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. The was a massive social experiment in the

: In 1853, Charles Loring Brace founded the Children's Aid Society . He believed that taking children out of "vile" urban environments and placing them with hardworking farm families would give them a better chance at becoming moral, productive citizens. : In the mid-19th century, cities like New

: Others were viewed merely as free labor for farms. Instances of neglect, physical abuse, and the permanent separation of siblings were common. Modern Cultural Impact

: Many children were legally adopted, treated as beloved family members, and given education and opportunities they never would have had.

The history of the Orphan Train has been revitalized in popular culture, most notably by Christina Baker Kline in her 2013 novel .

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

: Children were sent in batches by rail to predetermined stops in the Midwest.

: 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.

: In 1853, Charles Loring Brace founded the Children's Aid Society . He believed that taking children out of "vile" urban environments and placing them with hardworking farm families would give them a better chance at becoming moral, productive citizens.

: Others were viewed merely as free labor for farms. Instances of neglect, physical abuse, and the permanent separation of siblings were common. Modern Cultural Impact

: Many children were legally adopted, treated as beloved family members, and given education and opportunities they never would have had.

The history of the Orphan Train has been revitalized in popular culture, most notably by Christina Baker Kline in her 2013 novel .