Description: French Gratitude Train display cases featuring traditional French dolls and toys. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_10
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Photograph showing the French Gratitude Train in what is believed to be Chillicothe, Ohio, 1950. The Warner Hotel, located on North Paint Street in downtown Chillicothe, can be seen in the background. The French Gratitude Train was stopped in Chillicothe from October 20-22, 1950, during its final stop on its route. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialties, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_05
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Chillicothe (Ohio); Ross County (Ohio)
 

Description: Two visitors to the French Gratitude Train looking at the display of French products and historical objects. On the wall is a poster of the Bretagne region from the French National Railroad Society. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_08
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Visitor to the French Gratitude Train looking at a display case of traditional French dolls. On the wall are posters for the Alsace and Savoie regions of France from the French National Railroad Society. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_09
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Photograph of the French Gratitude Train in Sandusky, Ohio, 1950. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_07
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Sandusky (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: Visitors entering the French Gratitude Train at an unknown location in Ohio. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_11
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Photograph showing the interior of the Ohio car of the French Gratitude Train. Seen on the right are posters from the Theatre Nationale. Also seen are display cases with French items and explanations. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_03
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Photograph showing three visitors exiting the French Gratitude Train, in Newark, Ohio. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_06
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Newark (Ohio); Licking County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of the exterior of the French Gratitude Train parked on an unknown set of railroad tracks in Ohio. On the exterior are crests from the different regions of France. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_12
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Map showing the route of the Ohio car of the French Gratitude Train between June 5 and October 22, 1950. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_13
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio