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History of the Orphan Train Movement

National Orphan Train Complex curator Kaily Carson will discuss the fascinating migration known as the orphan train. Between 1854 and 1929, nearly 250,000 orphaned or abandoned children were relocated from New York City to the Midwest and West. Learn about how and why this movement began, how it worked and what happened to the children involved. Adults and teens. Please register.

Between 1854 and 1929, nearly 250,000 orphaned or abandoned children were relocated from New York City to the Midwest and West. This migration is known as the orphan train. The goal of this relocation effort was to find homes where children could learn practical skills, gain an education and live in a family setting. Join Kaily Carson, curator of the National Orphan Train Complex, and learn about how the orphan trains began, how they worked and what happened to the children involved.

Kaily Carson became the National Orphan Train Complex curator in July 2021. She graduated with bachelor's degree in art history and a museum studies certificate from Utah State University. She has worked in numerous museums, including the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art and the Utah State University Museum of Anthropology in Logan, Utah; the Minnilusa Historical Association and Journey Museum and Learning Center in Rapid City, South Dakota; and the Kirby Science Discovery Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Adults and teens. Seating is limited, so please register.

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