Orphan Train -

: Upon arrival, children were often lined up on a platform or in a town hall for prospective parents to inspect. This process was sometimes dehumanizing, with adults checking children’s teeth or muscles as if evaluating livestock. Placement Realities :

: 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. Orphan Train

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

: Children were sent in batches by rail to predetermined stops in the Midwest. He believed that taking children out of "vile"

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