: Many children were legally adopted, treated as beloved family members, and given education and opportunities they never would have had.
: It explores rootlessness, the search for identity, and the shared trauma of being "unwanted" across different generations. Quick Facts Duration : 1854–1929 (75 years). Orphan Train
: By 1890, over 150,000 miles of track were used to transport these children. : Many children were legally adopted, treated as
: 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. : By 1890, over 150,000 miles of track
The history of the Orphan Train has been revitalized in popular culture, most notably by Christina Baker Kline in her 2013 novel .
: The book intertwines the story of Vivian, a 91-year-old former "Orphan Train rider," with Molly, a contemporary foster teen.