In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the orphan train movement aimed to provide homes for abandoned or orphaned children in the United States. These trains transported children from crowded cities, like New York, to rural areas, where families could adopt or foster them. The program began in 1854 and continued until the 1920s, placing thousands of children in new homes. Many families were eager to help, while others sought labor for their farms. The Children's Aid Society played a significant role in organizing these efforts, helping to shape the lives of countless children during this period.