120 Attend Orphan Train Event

On Thursday, September 6, The History Center was proud to welcome a crowd of 120 to hear Alison Moore and Phil Lancaster's presentation of Riders on the Orphan Train, a Humanities Texas sponsored program. This multimedia event featured live music, film, a dramatic reading, and audience discussion. Moore and Lancaster used their talents as musicians and storytellers to bring to life the stories of the over 250,000 orphans and unwanted children transported from New York City to new homes throughout the country. The audience, comprised of all ages, marveled at this little known chapter of American history and was surprised to note that several attendees were descended from former orphan train riders. Texas received at least 1,200 children from the orphan trains between the years of 1854 and 1929 and this program helps to tell their stories so they are not forgotten.