A ship bearing 49 boxcars arrived at Weehawken, New Jersy on February 2, 1949. These boxcars were a gift from teh French people to American citizens in gratitude for their war relief efforts after World War II. Each state capitol and the District of Columbia received a boxcar. Oregon's arrived February 19, 1949 in Salem, Oregon. It was brought to Astoria in May 1962 and was placed permanently at Fort Stevens, Oregon, August 1995.

Oregon's boxcar contained numerous gifts, including oil paintings, chila plates, church bells, children's toys and drawings on brown paper.

The boxcar is an authentic car used by the French railroad during World War I and World War II to transport men and equipment to the front line. In World War I a boxcar would hold 40 men or 8 hourses. In World War II they carried a

The Merci Boxcar is on permanent display at Fort Stevens. It is maintained by La Societe des 40 hommes et 8 chevaux Du Oregon.

The brocure also lists the other states and where the boxcars are in each state.
Texas: Austin, American Legion Post 76
Utah: Salt Lake City, Veterans Memorial Grove
Idaho: Boise, State Penitentiary
Colorado: Mysteriously disappeared
Washington: Moxie, Sitting on Greenway in Sarg Hubbard park
California: Fresno, Roedin Park
New York: Whitesboro, 40/8 Voiture 92
Arizona: Scottsdale, McCormick Railroad Park
Hawaii: Ewe, Ewe Railroad yard