Orphan Train Direct

: By 1890, over 150,000 miles of track were used to transport these children.

: 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 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 : By 1890, over 150,000 miles of track

: Many children were legally adopted, treated as beloved family members, and given education and opportunities they never would have had. Lasting from 1854 to 1929, it is widely

: The book intertwines the story of Vivian, a 91-year-old former "Orphan Train rider," with Molly, a contemporary foster teen.

: It explores rootlessness, the search for identity, and the shared trauma of being "unwanted" across different generations. Quick Facts Duration : 1854–1929 (75 years).