History
The Conestoga River was a tributary of the Susquehanna River. The Native American tribe Conestoga, also known as the Susquehannock, lived along the Susquehanna River. When European settlers started to inhabit the region the tribe established trade relations with William Penn and the people of what is now Pennsylvania. Eventually trade with natives diminished and many moved out west. In 1763 a vigilante group known as the Paxton Boys slaughter most of the natives remaining in the area in retaliation for the Native American aggression during Pontiac’s Rebellion.
Design
Settlers began to inhabit the lands along the Susquehanna River and crafted a
new style of wagon called the Conestoga. They were made to transport heavy loads
over rough roads. They built from wood and had a curved floor to inhibit any of
the supplies from moving or falling out of the wagon. The thick white canvas was
pulled over a set of arched wooden hoops and was used as a protective shield
during inclement weather. The process of soaking the cloth in linseed oil would
make it waterproof.
Each carriage was pulled by four to six horses, typically of a breed of horse from the Conestoga region. The driver usually walked alongside the wagon or rode on one of the horses, traveling from twelve to fourteen miles each day. There was also a perch called the lazy board which was a piece of wood placed under the wagon that could be pulled out to sit or stand on.
new style of wagon called the Conestoga. They were made to transport heavy loads
over rough roads. They built from wood and had a curved floor to inhibit any of
the supplies from moving or falling out of the wagon. The thick white canvas was
pulled over a set of arched wooden hoops and was used as a protective shield
during inclement weather. The process of soaking the cloth in linseed oil would
make it waterproof.
Each carriage was pulled by four to six horses, typically of a breed of horse from the Conestoga region. The driver usually walked alongside the wagon or rode on one of the horses, traveling from twelve to fourteen miles each day. There was also a perch called the lazy board which was a piece of wood placed under the wagon that could be pulled out to sit or stand on.
Role
Conestoga wagons were used mainly from 1820 to 1840 in the areas around the Conestoga River in Pennsylvania but they were also used in Maryland,
Ohio and Virginia. They were used to carry farm products to be sold in more urban towns and commodities back to rural communities. During the Industrial
Revolution and the emerging railroad lines, the Conestoga wagons soon became obsolete. By Civil War times, the wagons were no longer being built.
These wagons are often assumed to have been used during the massive western migration in the 1800s but the wagons were too heavy to be pulled for the long distance. Instead lighter covered wagons nicknamed “prairie schooners” for their boat like look were used to make the great trek across the country.
Ohio and Virginia. They were used to carry farm products to be sold in more urban towns and commodities back to rural communities. During the Industrial
Revolution and the emerging railroad lines, the Conestoga wagons soon became obsolete. By Civil War times, the wagons were no longer being built.
These wagons are often assumed to have been used during the massive western migration in the 1800s but the wagons were too heavy to be pulled for the long distance. Instead lighter covered wagons nicknamed “prairie schooners” for their boat like look were used to make the great trek across the country.