orphan trains

Orphan Trains

Between 1854 and 1930, an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 children were shipped from the eastern US to western states and territories

Informal Learning Exhibit Proposal

Conditions

• Overcrowding• Disease• Family Breakdown

Placing Out

Need for Exhibit

Target Audience

Mixed Age Groups

Learning Outcomes

• List the conditions that led up to the orphan train movement

• Identify three characteristics of the placing out system

• Identify the difference and similarities between legally indentured children and legally adopted children during this time

Children'sAid

Society

Children'sAid

Society

New YorkFoundlingHospital

New YorkFoundlingHospital

Home forLittle

Wanderers

Home forLittle

Wanderers

Train Platform/WalkwayTrain Platform/Walkway

EXIT

Charitable Organizations

TRAIN (What was it like?)TRAIN (What was it like?)

“Adoption or Indenture ” Block

“Adoption or Indenture ” Block

Societal Conditions

Societal Conditions

Reflection ShowcaseReflection Showcase

Placing OutPlacing Out

TimelineTimeline

placard

placard

Interactive Wall Map Interactive Wall Map

Theater Theater Lecture RoomLecture Room Kiosks

INFO

ENTER

Info

“Our Stories”

Charitable OrganizationsCharitable Organizations

K

K

Exhibit Overview

Entrance

• ID tags issued

• Optional activities distributed

(Life in Pictures, A Moment in Time, Can You See Me)

•Photo Wall

•Placard

Exhibit

Visuals Activities

Social Conditions

VideoVideo images

depicting societal

conditions in the cities of NY and Boston in the mid 1800’s

Charitable Organizations

Audio Tour

Describing the history and practices of the

• NY Founding Hospital •Home for Little Wanderers• Children's Aid Society

Collect Parent & agent letters

Placing Out

Audio Tour/ Video Clips/Photos

The placing out process is described here via video clips and images

Collect blank indenture forms and newspaper advertisements

Train Platform

Kiosk

Contains touch screen KIOSK with interactive games to test visitors knowledge

Audio Enhanced replica of real train station

Train

Simulation

Puppet Theater

Play

Audio Enhanced

Map & Timeline

Indenture/Adoption Block

Animatronics

Facts

Story-telling

Our Stories

Photo & Video clips chronicle the lives of four different orphans

Theater& Chipping

Film:

Three different documentary's on the orphan train movement are shown daily. (11m/1pm/3pm)

Lecture Hall

Storytelling

• Surviving orphan train riders share their

stories.

• Q & A session after lecture

Reflection Showcase& Chipping

Art

Reflective art created by grade-schoolers who visited the museum.

Survey’s

1. Experience

2. Comprehension & Retention

Exhibit Evaluations

KIOSKS

ID TagsSouvenirs

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