national orphan train complex

We had out of state relatives visiting and decided to take them to the Orphan Train Museum. We were all so impressed with what it had to offer. This was a piece of Kansas history that none of us were that aware of. It was fascinating to read the personal experiences of those who came to KS to live with families during that time period.

We had just read The Orphan Train novel and became intrigued with the orphan train history. Having the museum a short 2 hour drive from Wichita, we decided to take a road trip to see the depot and the museum. Shaley, the curator, is friendly, delightful and makes the experience a very pleasant one. The well cared for museum, located in a redeveloped depot, contains stories of individual children who were sent on the train to the midwest to be relocated with "new" families, due to death or inability of their own families to care for them. The displays - some containing actual artifacts of the children - are very moving and the stories of the children heartbreaking. The visit is very worthwhile and although it focuses on a piece of history that wasn't so pleasant, it is history that we all should be aware of. Books, mementos and additional information is available for purchase in the gift shop.

piece of history that all should know about. worth a stop and price of admission. orphan train books are for sale at the concordia tourist building.

We were visiting relatives in the Concordia, KS area so wanted to see this museum. It was very touching. It is in an old depot which in itself is neat. First you see a short movie that tells about what you will be seeing. Shaley is the new director and she is a sweet girl. You could tell she is passionate about her job.The stories of the boys and girls who were sent west will move your heart. Most of the stories were good but there had to be some bad stories also. It is a very well done museum that I recommend.

I came to research the novel I'm writing and have no family link, but the more you read the stories of abandonment of the children the more moved you will be. It is hard to read every exhibit without realising how lucky we are not to have gone through what thousands of children went through. A very worthwhile visit.

True stories of a few of the some 250,000 orphans, sent on trains to the Midwest (actually 47 states!) with the hope they would become part of a family that could feed, clothe, educate and love them. Worth your time (round 60- 90 minutes depending on how quickly you read and how long you look at the books in the gift shop) to learn about a part of history that impacts the 1 of 25 of us related to an orphan train rider. Do Stop! but not a "whistle stop"!

This is an unusual museum that tells an incredible story of how homeless and abandoned children were sent out of New York to homes all across America. Who knew this mission lasted 75 years? What a testament to how one man's idea can become a mission of many, having a great impact not only in his lifetime but for generations to come. This story will not only amaze but bring a tear to your eye.

Amazing story told here long forgotten by most of the country. 1 in 25 persons in the country are related to kids on this train.

We stopped in Concordia, KS to spend the night and just happened to find this museum on our way out of town the next morning. It was very interesting to read the stories about the different children, where they ended up and what they did with their lives. It is also sad to learn that many brothers and sisters were split up and went to different families. It's definitely worth your time to stop and take a look around.

This is a must stop while your in Concordia, Ks lots of history about the movement of orphaned, abandoned and homeless children from Ny to the rural communities of the west and canada

This is such a lovely museum and so educational and well put together and great presentation. The two books they feature with regard to the Orphan Train and one boys experience. I wish they would have had them in the book store. I would have purchased them on the spot!!!!! Small fee but well worth it. Sweet downtown area, great little unique shops.

A wonderful museum with wonderful displays to enjoy and learn about the Orphan train experience.

This is a wonderful exhibit telling the history of the Orphan Train experiment--sending orphaned children west in the hopes they would be adopted. The photos are, by turn, wonderful and heart-breaking, as are the stories. It's perfectly located at the old train depot, and includes a few depot items. Try not to miss it.

I accompanied my daughter and her grandchildren to the Orphan Train museum. My granddaughters loved the experience, reading about children their ages, who were separated from the life they knew. The displays are very eclectic, and kept the museum visit interesting and informative. I shared with my great-granddaughters trips I had made on trains, something they haven't experienced. Although we found the history of the Orphan Train Riders to be sad in most cases, we all came away from the museum with much to discuss, and looked back on the vist to be a wonderful afternoon!

The subject of the Orphan Train and what became of the children fascinates me. So I was eager to see the national museum when learned that it is located in Concordia where I spent a week.The building where the museum is located is a trainstation near the tracks that are still used for freight trains. Statues of children frolic in the yard outside of the train station. One can easily imagine frightened children getting off the train on a stop in Concordia where prospective caretakers took a look at them.Then one enters the museum and strats reading information and one learns that all of the museum is a replica. The Orphan Train never stopped in Concordia, Kansas. It is located there, because the city of Concordia provided the best bid for the museum.There is a fee to enter. One starts by watching an informative video. Then one can walk through the train station reading large posters about the history of the orphan train, the lives of children pre and post orphan trian, their adult welfare workers from NYC, and whatever became of the children. Also hanging on the walls are umerous large photos (poster-size plus) of the children to help give a visual idea of what life was like for them. The huddled children in outside, corners in New York were very striking. A few artifacts like trunks exist in the two room building to help give the feel of the train station.The National Orphan Train is a significant part of US history. Because the site is not located in a town where the train would have stopped and because information is provided through the reading of large posters, it seems I could have saved a few pennies by skipping the museum and getting a book to read on the subject from my local library.