“The Orphans Who Rode The Baby Train from New York”
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The Orphan Train: A journey of Hope
Between 1854 and 1929, the Orphan Train Movement transported over 250,000 orphaned children abandoned children from the East coast to the Midwest and south, including Louisiana. These children, ranging in age from infant’s to teenagers, had been living in overcrowded and under funded orphanages in cities like New York and Boston. The Orphan Train movement was the brain child of Charles Loring Brace, a Methodist Minister who founded the Children’s Aid Society in New York City. Brace had a vision to provide these children with a home and a chance at a brand new life, in doing so, ending so much homelessness and declining the poverty level. These trains carried between twenty to forty children at a time. These Children were usually accompanied with Agents from the Children’s Aid Society or often by Catholic Nuns.
Local families in the area gathered at the Opelousas Train Station, eager to welcome the orphaned children into their lives. For many of these children, it was a first glimpse of loving or a sense of community. It would provide most with love they desperately needed
Most of the local area were farms, and this would help in the respect of not being able to hire help. These children were often dressed in their best outfits with tags pinned to their clothing with a number, these tags also contained their name, age, skills/skill level. Prospective parents would usually inspect the children and the tags to see who would fit best with what they were looking for. Some of the children were adopted out right while others were indentured as servants or farm laborer’s.
Life for these children was not easy, many worked long hours
on farms or in homes, performing tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and caring for younger children. Despite these challenges, many of the orphans thrived. Many formed strong bonds with family and community.
Now in 2025, over 150 years later, I found myself standing in front of the Louisiana Orphan Train Museum, located in the old Union Pacific Depot, in Opelousas Louisiana. I was immediately met with the poignant reminder of the lives of the orphans who passed through this very station. The museum is dedicated to preserving the memories of all of the children who passed through this very station.
As I walked through the exhibits, reading all the names, I learned so much about these children. From their journey from New York all the way through adulthood for some, I even got to see artifacts. Clothing displayed, tags displayed, we even had a tour guide who was very eager to share with us the story of his grandmother, who was indeed a train rider. As I left the museum I couldn’t help but feel a level of respect and compassion for these children. I highly recommend a visit to this museum. Please show your support for the families who have not known or should know what their orphan train ancestors journey through life was like.
Meet Ferrin A. Landry
Ferrin A. Landry is a proud Louisiana native from Lake Charles, now residing in Knoxville, Tennessee. She has devoted years to research for both history and meticulous genealogical research, unraveling the threads of her familial background and beyond. As a part of the creative force behind ThatgirlfromLouisiana.com, Ferrin showcases her passion for French culture and heritage.
With a background in Psychological Studies, Ferrin brings a loving and unique perspective to her work. Her true passion is helping others. Whether guiding others through the complexities of genealogy or sharing the rich histories and traditions of our Louisiana culture, her attention to detail and dedication and her love for story telling make her a compelling voice in the world of genealogy and in her community.
-
The Orphan Train: A journey of Hope
Between 1854 and 1929, the Orphan Train Movement transported over 250,000 orphaned children abandoned children from the East coast to the Midwest and south, including Louisiana. These children, ranging in age from infant’s to teenagers, had been living in overcrowded and under funded orphanages in cities like New York and Boston. The Orphan Train movement was the brain child of Charles Loring Brace, a Methodist Minister who founded the Children’s Aid Society in New York City. Brace had a vision to provide these children with a home and a chance at a brand new life, in doing so, ending so much homelessness and declining the poverty level. These trains carried between twenty to forty children at a time. These Children were usually accompanied with Agents from the Children’s Aid Society or often by Catholic Nuns.
Local families in the area gathered at the Opelousas Train Station, eager to welcome the orphaned children into their lives. For many of these children, it was a first glimpse of loving or a sense of community. It would provide most with love they desperately needed
Most of the local area were farms, and this would help in the respect of not being able to hire help. These children were often dressed in their best outfits with tags pinned to their clothing with a number, these tags also contained their name, age, skills/skill level. Prospective parents would usually inspect the children and the tags to see who would fit best with what they were looking for. Some of the children were adopted out right while others were indentured as servants or farm laborer’s.
Life for these children was not easy, many worked long hours
on farms or in homes, performing tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and caring for younger children. Despite these challenges, many of the orphans thrived. Many formed strong bonds with family and community.
Now in 2025, over 150 years later, I found myself standing in front of the Louisiana Orphan Train Museum, located in the old Union Pacific Depot, in Opelousas Louisiana. I was immediately met with the poignant reminder of the lives of the orphans who passed through this very station. The museum is dedicated to preserving the memories of all of the children who passed through this very station.
As I walked through the exhibits, reading all the names, I learned so much about these children. From their journey from New York all the way through adulthood for some, I even got to see artifacts. Clothing displayed, tags displayed, we even had a tour guide who was very eager to share with us the story of his grandmother, who was indeed a train rider. As I left the museum I couldn’t help but feel a level of respect and compassion for these children. I highly recommend a visit to this museum. Please show your support for the families who have not known or should know what their orphan train ancestors journey through life was like.
Meet Ferrin A. Landry
Ferrin A. Landry is a proud Louisiana native from Lake Charles, now residing in Knoxville, Tennessee. She has devoted years to research for both history and meticulous genealogical research, unraveling the threads of her familial background and beyond. As a part of the creative force behind ThatgirlfromLouisiana.com, Ferrin showcases her passion for French culture and heritage.
With a background in Psychological Studies, Ferrin brings a loving and unique perspective to her work. Her true passion is helping others. Whether guiding others through the complexities of genealogy or sharing the rich histories and traditions of our Louisiana culture, her attention to detail and dedication and her love for story telling make her a compelling voice in the world of genealogy and in her community.
