Do you have children in your family lines who seem to have vanished or who turn up in unexpected places, such as in the Midwest or western part of our country?

The orphan train movement (1854-1929) relocated over 200,000 children to foster homes across the country, in hopes of providing them with better lives. Historians estimate that only about one-third of the children placed on orphan trains had no living parents. Who were these children and why were they sent away from their families?

To kick off our 2026-2027 membership year, genealogist Karen Fortin will present “Orphan Trains and the Children Who Rode Them.”

The story of the orphan trains, which relocated children from the eastern cities to rural farmlands, has become a part of American popular culture. Karen’s presentation  explores the facts behind the legends, follows a group of children “placed-out” in 1880, and provides information on resources available to learn more about the orphan trains and their riders.