From New York to the Heartland: the Orphan Train Experience in Illinois

Join us for "From New York to the Heartland: The Orphan Train Experience in Illinois" on Sunday, August 9, at 2 pm, at the Lincoln Learning Center in Sterling. This event will delve into the origins of the Orphan Train movement, the organizations involved, and the journeys of the children who participated. We will examine Illinois' unique connection to this historical movement and highlight the experiences of several orphan train riders who arrived in Illinois in 1884, exploring their backgrounds, travels, and lives post-journey. Attendees will also have the opportunity to share their own family stories related to orphan train riders. This presentation, featuring speaker Jamie Poorman, is co-hosted by the Sterling Public Library and the Sterling/Rock Falls Historical Society, and is part of the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speakers Bureau initiative, which promotes free cultural programming across Illinois.