Merci Train facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Merci Train |
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Photograph of box car from French "Merci train," a gift from France to the United States in grateful recognition of U.S. aid to France after World War II.
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The Merci Train (which means "Thank You Train" in French) was a special gift from France to the United States. It included 49 old World War I era train cars. These cars were given to the U.S. to say thank you for the help America sent to France after World War II. The Merci Train arrived in Weehawken, New Jersey on February 3, 1949.
Why the Merci Train Was Sent
After World War II, France needed a lot of help. The United States sent food and other important supplies to France and Italy in 1947. This was called the Friendship Train. It was a huge effort, with over 700 train cars full of supplies!
The idea to send a "thank you" gift back to the U.S. came from a French railroad worker and war veteran named Andre Picard. Over six million people in France donated items for this special thank you train. They gave all sorts of gifts, like dolls, statues, clothes, furniture, and even a medal that was said to belong to Napoleon.
The History of the Merci Train Cars
The train cars used for the Merci Train were very old. They were called "forty and eight" cars. This name came from their size: they could carry either 40 men or eight horses! These cars were first built in the 1870s as regular freight cars.
They were used by the French army during both World War I and World War II. Later, they were even used by the German army during their occupation of France. Finally, the Allied forces (like the U.S.) used them when they freed France.
In 1949, France sent 49 of these historic box cars to the United States. There was one car for each of the 48 states at the time, plus one for the Territory of Hawaii. Each car was filled with about five tons of gifts, all donated by everyday French citizens.
The ship carrying the Merci Train, named the Magellan, arrived on February 3, 1949. More than 25,000 people came to watch! On the side of the ship, it proudly said, "MERCI AMERICA" (Thank You America). After arriving, the train cars were sent to their assigned states.
Where the Merci Train Cars Are Now
When the Merci Train cars arrived in each state, they were opened up. They became like traveling exhibits, showing off all the amazing gifts from France. After that, committees in each state gave out the gifts to different groups and museums.
Today, 43 of these original box cars still exist! You can find them on public display in different places across the United States. Here's a list of where some of them are located:
| State | Image | Location | City or town | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum 34°41′31″N 86°35′10″W / 34.692051°N 86.586194°W |
Huntsville | The Alabama State Archives has some of the gifts. | |
| Arizona |  |
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park 33°32′15″N 111°55′24″W / 33.537500°N 111.923333°W |
Scottsdale | The Arizona Capitol Museum has some of the gifts. |
| Arkansas | American Legion Post 41 34°31′39″N 90°35′18″W / 34.527528°N 90.588361°W |
Helena–West Helena | The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts has some of the gifts. | |
| California | American Legion Post 509 36°46′56″N 119°46′22″W / 36.782337°N 119.772787°W |
Fresno | ||
| Colorado | Unknown | The Woodruff Memorial Library has some of the gifts. | ||
| Connecticut | Destroyed | The Abbey of Regina Laudis received a French church bell from the box car. | ||
| Delaware | American Legion Post 6 38°38′39″N 75°36′33″W / 38.644101°N 75.609211°W |
Seaford | Maintained by a local group called Forty and Eight Voiture 1320. | |
| Florida | Holly Hill City Hall 29°14′40″N 81°02′25″W / 29.244416°N 81.040179°W |
Holly Hill | The city hall has some of the gifts. | |
| Georgia |  |
Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History 34°01′26″N 84°36′52″W / 34.024000°N 84.614400°W |
Kennesaw | The Georgia State Archives has some of the gifts. |
| Idaho | Old Idaho State Penitentiary 43°36′10″N 116°09′43″W / 43.602700°N 116.162000°W |
Boise | The Idaho Historical Society has some of the gifts. | |
| Illinois | Unknown | |||
| Indiana | Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum 41°05′36″N 85°14′46″W / 41.093330°N 85.246208°W |
Fort Wayne | The Fort Wayne History Center has some of the gifts. | |
| Iowa | Antique Acres 42°36′35″N 92°27′27″W / 42.609824°N 92.457628°W |
Cedar Falls | The Iowa Historical Society has some of the gifts. | |
| Kansas | Veterans Memorial Park 38°52′19″N 99°18′03″W / 38.872050°N 99.300760°W |
Hays | Maintained by Forty and Eight Voiture 1543. | |
| Kentucky |  |
Kentucky Railway Museum 37°39′26″N 85°35′36″W / 37.657103°N 85.593405°W |
New Haven | The Kentucky Historical Society has some of the gifts. |
| Louisiana |  |
Old Louisiana State Capitol 30°26′49″N 91°11′20″W / 30.446881°N 91.188861°W |
Baton Rouge | |
| Maine | Railway Village Museum 43°54′11″N 69°37′18″W / 43.902926°N 69.621776°W |
Boothbay | The Maine State Museum has some of the gifts. | |
| Maryland |  |
B&O Railroad Museum 39°17′08″N 76°37′57″W / 39.285509°N 76.632619°W |
Baltimore | The Montgomery County Historical Society has some of the gifts. |
| Massachusetts | Destroyed | |||
| Michigan | American Legion Post 183 42°40′04″N 84°36′25″W / 42.667663°N 84.606928°W |
Lansing | Maintained by Forty and Eight Voiture 946. | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Military Museum 46°04′52″N 94°20′49″W / 46.081073°N 94.347034°W |
Little Falls | Maintained by Forty and Eight Grand Voiture du Minnesota. | |
| Mississippi | .jpg) |
Old GM&O Depot 32°17′55″N 90°10′45″W / 32.298546°N 90.179118°W |
Jackson | The Museum of Mississippi History has some of the gifts. |
| Missouri | Dakotaland Museum 38°41′30″N 93°15′33″W / 38.691700°N 93.259033°W |
Sedalia | Maintained by Forty and Eight Voiture 333. | |
| Montana | Montana Military Museum 46°37′21″N 112°05′51″W / 46.622532°N 112.097600°W |
Fort Harrison | The Montana Historical Society has some of the gifts. | |
| Nebraska | Destroyed | The Nebraska Historical Society has some of the gifts. | ||
| Nevada | Nevada State Railroad Museum 35°58′13″N 114°51′25″W / 35.970306°N 114.856810°W |
Carson City | The Nevada State Museum has some of the gifts. | |
| New Hampshire | 126 Reed St. 42°59′48″N 71°28′56″W / 42.996633°N 71.482133°W |
Manchester | Saint Anselm College has some of the gifts. | |
| New Jersey | Destroyed | The New Jersey Museum has some of the gifts. | ||
| New Mexico | Expo New Mexico 35°04′50″N 106°34′14″W / 35.080554°N 106.570564°W |
Albuquerque | The fair grounds has some of the gifts. | |
| New York | Forty and Eight Voiture 92 43°06′41″N 75°20′48″W / 43.11138°N 75.346719°W |
Whitesboro | The Met has some of the gifts. | |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Transportation Museum 35°41′15″N 80°26′00″W / 35.687539°N 80.433338°W |
Spencer | The North Carolina History Museum has some of the gifts. | |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Heritage Center 46°49′06″N 100°46′48″W / 46.818435°N 100.779894°W |
Bismarck | The North Dakota Historical Society has some of the gifts. | |
| Ohio | Camp Perry 41°32′33″N 83°01′13″W / 41.542523°N 83.020277°W |
Near Port Clinton | The Ohio Historical Society has some of the gifts. | |
| Oklahoma | J. D. McCarty Center 35°13′54″N 97°24′35″W / 35.231790°N 97.409588°W |
Norman | The Oklahoma History Center has some of the gifts. | |
| Oregon | Simpson Park 43°24′57″N 124°13′28″W / 43.415892°N 124.224374°W |
North Bend | The Benton County Historical Society has some of the gifts. | |
| Pennsylvania | Fort Indiantown Gap 40°25′56″N 76°34′12″W / 40.432089°N 76.569960°W |
Near Jonestown | Historical societies in Blair and Lycoming Counties have some of the gifts. | |
| Rhode Island | Museum of Work and Culture 41°59′57″N 71°30′58″W / 41.999296°N 71.516107°W |
Woonsocket | The museum has some of the gifts. | |
| South Carolina | Memorial Park 34°13′10″N 80°14′51″W / 34.219331°N 80.247577°W |
Bishopville | ||
| South Dakota | State Fairgrounds 44°21′48″N 98°13′47″W / 44.363464°N 98.229703°W |
Huron | The Dakotaland Museum has some of the gifts. | |
| Tennessee | American Legion Post 145 36°35′09″N 82°10′53″W / 36.585750°N 82.181491°W |
Bristol | The Tennessee State Museum has some of the gifts. | |
| Texas | Texas Military Forces Museum 30°18′50″N 97°45′41″W / 30.313761°N 97.761278°W |
Camp Mabry | The Briscoe History Center has some of the gifts. | |
| Utah |  |
Utah State Railroad Museum 41°13′19″N 111°58′45″W / 41.222013°N 111.979280°W |
Ogden | |
| Vermont | Vermont National Guard Library and Museum 44°30′02″N 73°09′27″W / 44.500439°N 73.157397°W |
Colchester | The Vermont Historical Society and the Wood Art Gallery have some of the gifts. | |
| Virginia | Virginia War Museum 37°01′10″N 76°27′13″W / 37.019476°N 76.453647°W |
Newport News | ||
| Washington | Sarg Hubbard Riverside Park 46°36′07″N 120°28′29″W / 46.601932°N 120.474826°W |
Yakima | The Karshner Museum has some of the gifts. | |
| West Virginia | Veterans' Park 37°25′06″N 81°35′24″W / 37.418257°N 81.589946°W |
Welch | Tu-Endie-Wei State Park has some of the gifts. | |
| Wisconsin | |
National Railroad Museum 44°29′00″N 88°02′53″W / 44.483306°N 88.048000°W |
Ashwaubenon | The Hoard Historical Museum and the Wisconsin Historical Society have some of the gifts. |
| Wyoming | American Legion Post 6 41°08′18″N 104°47′38″W / 41.138219°N 104.793853°W |
Cheyenne | The Wyoming Museum has some of the gifts. | |
| Territory of Hawaii | Hawaiian Railway Society 21°19′55″N 158°02′46″W / 21.331897°N 158.046105°W |
Ewa Beach |
