An Amtrak Photo Story: A Black Family's Excursion Through The Midwest

Discovering your roots on a long ride on the great American outdoors in the company of family, sounds like a great way to experience an Amtrak sleeper car for the first time. Tina, Jashed and Khari Fakhrid-Deen took a voyage full of bonding from Chicago to Denver and made stops at a few landmarks along the way to learn more about black heritage in the Midwest.

The Fakhrid-Deens’ visits to places such as The Great American West Museum and other historical sites provided them with exposure to new information and the impacts that Black people have had on the region.

We’ve provided some photos from their exciting family excursion. Enjoy!

1. An Amtrak Photo Story

Amtrak Union Station, Chicago, IL

2. An Amtrak Photo Story

A view of the Rocky Mountains from Amtrak’s California Zephyr train

3. An Amtrak Photo Story

The Fakhrid-Deen family get ready to leave Chicago for their mid-west journey.

4. An Amtrak Photo Story

A view of the Rocky Mountains from Amtrak’s California Zephyr train

5. An Amtrak Photo Story

Grain silos morning in Colorado on the Amtrak California Zephyr

6. An Amtrak Photo Story

Farmland along Amtrak’s California Zephyr route

7. An Amtrak Photo Story

Union Station, Denver Colorado

8. An Amtrak Photo Story

Tina, Jashed and Khair Fakhrid-Deen admire a black historical site in Denver.

9. An Amtrak Photo Story

Hand-in-hand, Tina, Jashed and Khari Fakhrid-Deen board an Amtrak train in Union Station in Denver, Colorado

10. An Amtrak Photo Story

This train is Midwest bound with the Fakhrid-Deen family in tow.

11. An Amtrak Photo Story

The Fakhrid-Deen’s visit a historical site in Denver during the journey to exploring their roots.

12. An Amtrak Photo Story

Khari Fakhrid-Deen looks at photos of black cowboys like Nat Love and Bill Pickett, while learning about the influence of Black people in the Midwest at The Black American West Museum.

13. An Amtrak Photo Story

Black American West Museum, Denver, CO

14. An Amtrak Photo Story

Khari Fakhrid-Deen listens to her parents in an intimate setting as they ride along a stunning view of the great outdoors.

15. An Amtrak Photo Story

At the Amtrak station in Chicago, Jashed Fakhrid-Deen traces a map of their journey to his family.

16. An Amtrak Photo Story

Khari Fakhrid-Deen reads a book in her comfortable Amtrak sleeper car.

17. An Amtrak Photo Story

A view of the Colorado River on the Amtrak California Zephyr

18. An Amtrak Photo Story

A view of the Colorado River from the Amtrak California Zephyr

19. An Amtrak Photo Story

A view of the Rocky Mountains from Amtrak’s California Zephyr train

20. An Amtrak Photo Story

Desert dusk view seen from the Amtrak California Zephyr

21. An Amtrak Photo Story

A breakfast meal enjoyed by the Fakhrid-Deen family on the train

22. An Amtrak Photo Story

A sunrise view of the Rocky Mountains from Amtrak’s California Zephyr train