Stone House at Orphan Train Museum

We need your help to tell the amazing history of the Orpahn Train Movement! 

Did you know that 1 in 25 Americans have a connection to an Orphan Train Rider?

Never heard of the Orphan Train Movement? That's ok, the majority of Americans have not. 

Between 1854 and 1929 an estimated 300,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children were placed out during the Orphan Train Movement.  They were sent to rural communities across the country, to all 48 states and parts of Canada and Mexico. You can learn more about the Orphan Train Movement through our website orphantraindepot.org.

The journey to preserving the Orphan Train Movement began with Mary Ellen Johnson in Springfield, Arkansas in the late 1980's. The Orphan Train Heritage Society of America collected an extensive archive including a database of known orphan train riders. The National Orphan Train Complex now houses this archive. The Complex includes a museum, research center, and train car exhibit. There's only one thing missing, our turn of the century stone house. 

Our Stone House was built in 1900. It stands to the north of the depot housing our museum and is thought to have been the station master's home, or telegraph office. The limestone house was donated to us by Marla Jorgenson and her siblings. When the house is remodeled it will be used as gallery space to showcase our collections and bring in traveling exhibitions, as well as, an entertaining and fundraising space.

Please help us share the history of the Orphan Train Movement and its brave riders!

The money raised will go to the National Orphan Train Complex, Inc.  

Please check us out on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orphantraindepot?ref=hl
Our website: http://orphantraindepot.org/