National Orphan Train Complex

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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 rider! 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.

We are thrilled to be finished with the big project to stabilize the foundation of the historic Union Pacific Depot whic...
10/08/2026

We are thrilled to be finished with the big project to stabilize the foundation of the historic Union Pacific Depot which houses the main part of the Orphan Train Museum! Thank you to Cyphers Masonry for all the hard work, and to the Kansas Historical Society Heritage Trust Fund and the Dane G Hansen Foundation for funding. A number of private donors also assisted with this project. Ready for another hundred years!

Lots of hat making and some turn of the century card/dice games during the Big Kansas Road Trip popup on Saturday. We lo...
10/04/2026

Lots of hat making and some turn of the century card/dice games during the Big Kansas Road Trip popup on Saturday. We loved meeting all of you and invite you back again!

10/02/2026

Thank you to Humanities Nebraska for providing a touring grant to Riders on the Orphan Train, our outreach group. They will present the story of the Orphan Train in Nebraska in November. Stay tuned for their schedule!

Don't miss this opportunity to see our traveling exhibit! Be sure to check with the venue directly regarding open hours.
10/02/2026

Don't miss this opportunity to see our traveling exhibit! Be sure to check with the venue directly regarding open hours.

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.

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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