Darcy Maulsby Presents: All Aboard - Relive Iowa's Inspiring Orphan Train Heritage

The Perry Public Library is excited to welcome back Darcy Maulsby, author and historian, for another engaging look into Iowa's fascinating history!

Imagine you're a young child from New York City, and you're told you're going on a train ride--only you have no idea what lies ahead. From 1854 to 1929, a network of “orphan trains” relocated as many as 300,000 children from East Coast orphanages in cities like Boston and New York City to at least 39 states. Iowa was among the top states for many of these kids who started new lives in the Midwest and beyond. In fact, roughly 8,000 to 10,000 of these needy children were brought to Iowa to live with both farmers and town residents. These children were taken in by families in at least 316 Iowa towns. For many, this was a story of second chances, hope and resilience. You'll be touched by the incredible stories of some of these orphan train riders and how their lives evolved after moving to Iowa.

Join us for this free presentation! Open to all patrons.