Freedom Train – 1947–1949 station stops facts for kids
The Freedom Train was a special train that traveled all across the United States from 1947 to 1949. Its mission was to show important historical documents, like the original United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights, to people in every state. This was a way to remind Americans about their rights and freedoms after World War II. The train carried over 100 precious documents, protected by armed guards. It was a big event in every city it visited, helping people connect with American history.
Contents
- The Freedom Train's Journey Across America
- 1947: Starting the Journey
- 1948: Crossing the Country
- January 1948: Deep South and Southwest
- February 1948: Texas and the Southwest
- March 1948: California and the West
- April 1948: Pacific Northwest and Northern Plains
- May 1948: Midwest and Central Plains
- June 1948: Missouri and Great Lakes States
- July 1948: Great Lakes and Ohio Valley
- August 1948: Ohio and Michigan
- September 1948: East Coast Return
- October 1948: Final Stops and Conclusion
- 1949: Final Appearance
The Freedom Train's Journey Across America
The Freedom Train made stops in all 48 states that existed at the time. It traveled thousands of miles, allowing millions of Americans to see these important documents up close. Here's a look at where the train stopped during its amazing tour.
1947: Starting the Journey
The Freedom Train began its grand tour in September 1947, starting in the northeastern United States.
September 1947: Northeast Beginnings
The train started its journey in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a city famous for its role in American independence. It then moved through New Jersey, stopping in cities like Atlantic City and Trenton. The train also spent time in New York City, visiting Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx.
October 1947: New England and Beyond
In October, the Freedom Train explored New England. It visited many cities in Connecticut, including Stamford and Hartford. It then traveled to Rhode Island (Providence) and several cities in Massachusetts, such as Worcester and Boston. The train also made stops in Vermont (Rutland, Burlington, Montpelier), New Hampshire (Nashua, Dover, Manchester), and Maine (Augusta, Bangor, Lewiston).
November 1947: Back to the Mid-Atlantic
The train continued its tour through New York, stopping in places like Schenectady, Syracuse, and Buffalo. It then moved into Pennsylvania, visiting Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and the state capital, Harrisburg. The month ended with stops in Delaware (Wilmington, Dover), Maryland (Salisbury, Baltimore), and the nation's capital, Washington, D.C.. The train also began its journey through Virginia, stopping in Charlottesville and Lynchburg.
December 1947: Southern States Tour
As the year ended, the Freedom Train traveled through the southern states. It visited more cities in Virginia, including Roanoke and Richmond. The train then went to North Carolina (Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington), South Carolina (Columbia, Spartanburg, Greenville, Charleston), and Georgia (Augusta, Savannah, Brunswick, Columbus, Macon). It also made stops in Florida (Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Tallahassee, Pensacola) and Alabama (Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa).
1948: Crossing the Country
The second year of the tour saw the Freedom Train travel across the southern and western parts of the United States.
January 1948: Deep South and Southwest
The train started 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia. It then moved into Tennessee (Chattanooga, Nashville, Jackson) and Louisiana (New Orleans, Monroe, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Shreveport). The journey continued through Mississippi (Hattiesburg, Meridian, Jackson, Vicksburg) and Arkansas (Texarkana, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Fort Smith). By the end of the month, the train was in Oklahoma (Muskogee, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Enid, Ada) and Texas (Denison, Dallas).
February 1948: Texas and the Southwest
The Freedom Train spent much of February in Texas, visiting cities like Fort Worth, Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Austin, and San Antonio. It then moved into New Mexico (Santa Fe, Albuquerque) and Arizona (Douglas, Tucson, Phoenix, Yuma). The month concluded with the train arriving in California, stopping in San Diego, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Long Beach, and San Bernardino.
March 1948: California and the West
After some maintenance in San Bernardino, the train continued its California tour, visiting Riverside, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, and Sacramento. It then headed east into Nevada (Reno, Elko), Utah (Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden), and Idaho (Pocatello, Boise). The month ended with stops in Washington (Walla Walla, Yakima).
April 1948: Pacific Northwest and Northern Plains
In April, the Freedom Train explored the Pacific Northwest, visiting Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, and Salem in Oregon. It then moved through Washington (Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, Wenatchee, Spokane) and Idaho (Coeur d'Alene). The train then headed into the northern states of Montana (Missoula, Butte, Helena, Great Falls, Billings), Wyoming (Sheridan, Casper, Cheyenne), South Dakota (Rapid City, Pierre, Aberdeen, Sioux Falls, Watertown), and North Dakota (Bismarck, Minot, Jamestown, Fargo, Grand Forks).
May 1948: Midwest and Central Plains
The train continued its journey through the Midwest. It visited Minnesota (Duluth, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Brainerd, St. Cloud, Willmar) and Wisconsin (Superior). It then moved into Iowa (Sioux City, Burlington, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Davenport) and Nebraska (Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Alliance). The train also stopped in Colorado (Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Trinidad) and Kansas (Hutchinson, Wichita, Emporia).
June 1948: Missouri and Great Lakes States
The Freedom Train traveled through Kansas (Topeka, Lawrence, Parsons) and much of Missouri (Joplin, Springfield, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Sedalia, Jefferson City, St. Louis, Hannibal). It then visited Illinois (Quincy, Rockford, Kankakee, Champaign, Decatur, Springfield, Belleville, Cairo) and Wisconsin (Madison, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Wausau, Green Bay, Oshkosh).
July 1948: Great Lakes and Ohio Valley
In July, the train visited Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then spent time in Chicago, Illinois, for the Chicago Railroad Fair. It continued through Indiana (Gary, Vincennes, Terre Haute, Logansport, Indianapolis) and Kentucky (Paducah, Louisville).
August 1948: Ohio and Michigan
The train toured Kentucky (Bowling Green, Frankfort, Lexington, Ashland) and much of Ohio (Portsmouth, Cincinnati, Toledo, Sandusky, Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Dayton, Springfield, Lima, Canton, Youngstown, Steubenville). It also made extensive stops in Michigan (Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Lansing, Battle Creek, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Jackson, Flint, Saginaw, Port Huron, Pontiac, Dearborn, Monroe).
September 1948: East Coast Return
The Freedom Train continued its journey through Ohio and then moved into West Virginia (Wheeling, Parkersburg, Clarksburg, Charleston, Huntington, Bluefield). It also revisited Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, Erie, Oil City, Johnstown) and Maryland (Cumberland). The month ended with stops in Tennessee (Bristol, Johnson City, Kingsport).
October 1948: Final Stops and Conclusion
In its final full month of touring, the Freedom Train visited Tennessee (Knoxville, Oak Ridge) and North Carolina (Asheville). It then moved through Virginia (Danville, Winchester) and Maryland (Hagerstown). The train made its last stops in Pennsylvania (York, Lancaster, Easton) and New Jersey (Morristown, Jersey City, Princeton, Camden, Red Bank, Orange, Montclair, Passaic, Ridgewood, Hackensack, New Brunswick). Its final public stop was in Havre de Grace, Maryland.
1949: Final Appearance
January 1949: Last Stop
The Freedom Train made one final appearance in Washington, D.C. in January 1949, marking the end of its historic tour.
