: Children were sent in batches by rail to predetermined stops in the Midwest.
The history of the Orphan Train has been revitalized in popular culture, most notably by Christina Baker Kline in her 2013 novel .
: In the mid-19th century, cities like New York and Boston faced a crisis of "street children"—tens of thousands of homeless youth living in poverty, often turning to crime or facing starvation.
: While the Children's Aid Society was the largest, other groups like the New York Foundling Hospital and the New York Juvenile Asylum also participated. The Journey and "Selection"
: Many children were legally adopted, treated as beloved family members, and given education and opportunities they never would have had.