McLane in Fresno in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

French Merci Train Boxcar

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, May 4, 2022

1. French Merci Train Boxcar Marker

Inscription. This is one of the French boxcars of the French Merci Train sent to the United States. in 1949 as a thank you token to the American people for the Freedom Ship of food and clothing sent to France in 1948. The car was filled with many articles of handcraft and heirlooms from the French people. This is the kind of French boxcar that transported our men, horses and equipment in France during World War I, and appropriately marked "40 men or 8 horses." This car was allocated to California and given to the 40/8 Societe by Governor Earl Warren and placed in Fresno as a war memorial.

Erected 1949.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Merci Train Boxcars series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1949.

Location. 36° 46.94′ N, 119° 46.368′ W. Memorial is in Fresno, California, in Fresno County. It is in McLane. It can be reached from North First Street. The markers are on the west side of the boxcar, opposite from the street side. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 3509 North First Street, Fresno CA 93726, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: French Merci Train Boxcar Cover (here, next

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to this marker); Korea "The Forgotten War" (within shouting distance of this marker); Christmas Tree Lane (approx. 2.6 miles away); Fresno Technical School (approx. 2.9 miles away); Fresno Traction Company (approx. 3 miles away); George M. Bowman (approx. 3.1 miles away); Site of Church-Sperry Mill and Mill Ditch (approx. 3.1 miles away); The Fresno Water Tower (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fresno.

Regarding French Merci Train Boxcar. The coats of arms found on other Merci Train Boxcars have been removed.

Also see . . . Merci Train.

"The Merci Train was a train of 49 French railroad box cars filled with tens of thousands of gifts of gratitude from at least that many individual French citizens. They were showing their appreciation for the more than 700 American box cars of relief goods sent to them by (primarily) individual Americans in 1948."

(Submitted on May 20, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

French Merci Train Boxcar image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, May 4, 2022

2. French Merci Train Boxcar

West side of the boxcar. Markers on the lower left.

East side of French Merci Train Boxcar image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, May 4, 2022

3. East side of French Merci Train Boxcar

Second Marker, to the right of the first marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, May 4, 2022

4. Second Marker, to the right of the first marker

See Nearby Marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 927 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 5, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.