National Orphan Train Complex

National Orphan Train Complex We are the National Orphan Train Complex - the center for all things orphan train related!

Between 1854 - 1929 an estimated 250,000 orphaned, homeless and abandoned children from New York City and large East Coast cities were placed out in families in rural communities across the United States. The Orphan Train Movement was the beginning of the modern day foster care system. There are over 2 million descendants of orphan train riders today and 1 in 25 Americans has a connection to a rid

er! The National Orphan Train Complex is dedicated to preserving the history of the Orphan Trains, and spreading awareness through our depot museum and research center. Monday: By Appointment
Tuesday-Friday: 10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm
Saturday: 10am-4pm

If you have a group of 10 or more, please call ahead.

Construction is now in the home stretch! Attention to little details and cleanup are next. Cyphers Masonry, Jamestown, K...
08/25/2026

Construction is now in the home stretch! Attention to little details and cleanup are next. Cyphers Masonry, Jamestown, KS have done an outstanding job! We especially appreciate the care that went into linking the new bricks into the historic sections of bricks.

Bricks!!
08/19/2026

Bricks!!

Dirt pile is gone. Sand pile appeared. That can mean only one thing--bricks are on the way! Project is much closer to co...
08/17/2026

Dirt pile is gone. Sand pile appeared. That can mean only one thing--bricks are on the way! Project is much closer to completion!

We enjoyed a visit from Melody Whitaker, Ft Worth, Texas, on Tuesday. She donated the corduroy outer garment worn by her...
08/13/2026

We enjoyed a visit from Melody Whitaker, Ft Worth, Texas, on Tuesday. She donated the corduroy outer garment worn by her grandmother Mary Josephine Dolan, on the Orphan Train to Nebraska. It will be preserved in our archive room. Thank you so much, Melody!

Reservations for our 2027 Traveling Exhibit season are now open to the general public. Contact our curator at curator@or...
08/01/2026

Reservations for our 2027 Traveling Exhibit season are now open to the general public. Contact our curator at [email protected] to reserve your spot.

Preparing for the last concrete pour (maybe). Look closely and you can see the footings for the original Union Pacific D...
08/01/2026

Preparing for the last concrete pour (maybe). Look closely and you can see the footings for the original Union Pacific Depot which was larger than the current structure, built in 1917.

So our traveling exhibit has ended its tour to nearby Cawker City, Kansas. Curator Aaron Morgan traveled on the last day...
07/29/2026

So our traveling exhibit has ended its tour to nearby Cawker City, Kansas. Curator Aaron Morgan traveled on the last day of the exhibit to see it and make a couple adjustments to the exhibit. While there, he also visited the world's largest ball of twine and was honored to add more twine to the ball!

The work goes on! Concrete sidewalk and Ada ramp, and concrete base ready for new brick. Extra work on exterior access t...
07/14/2026

The work goes on! Concrete sidewalk and Ada ramp, and concrete base ready for new brick. Extra work on exterior access to interior plumbing met the approval of the great guy who needs to get down in that hole!

Work continues on the historic Union Pacific Depot that houses the main part of the Orphan Train Museum. It has been a v...
07/10/2026

Work continues on the historic Union Pacific Depot that houses the main part of the Orphan Train Museum. It has been a very hot week!

The National Orphan Train Complex plans to honor the memory of Mary Ellen Johnson who is credited with preserving memori...
07/03/2026

The National Orphan Train Complex plans to honor the memory of Mary Ellen Johnson who is credited with preserving memories of the children who rode Orphan Trains. We are 1/3 of the way to our goal! Please call if you would like to support this effort. Contact information is on our website orphantraindepot.org.

Address

300 Washington Street
Concordia, KS
66901

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm
Friday 10am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

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