History Covered_wagon

a prairie schooner on cariboo road or in vicinity of rogers pass, selkirk mountains, c. 1887, edward roper (1833-1909).



crossing frozen mississippi river

in colonial times conestoga wagon popular migration southward through great appalachian valley along great wagon road. after american revolution used open commerce pittsburgh , ohio. conestoga, in long wagon trains, primary overland cargo vehicle on appalachian mountains until development of railroad. wagon pulled team of 8 horses or dozen oxen. purpose, conestoga horse, special breed of medium heavy draft horses, developed.

once breached, moderate terrain , fertile land between appalachians , mississippi rapidly settled. in mid-nineteenth century thousands of americans took wide variety of farm wagons across great plains developed parts of midwest places in west such california, oregon, colorado, , montana. overland migrants typically fitted sturdy wagon 5 or 6 wooden or metal bows arched high on bed. on stretched canvas or similar sturdy cloth, creating distinctive covered wagon silhouette.

covered wagons used transport cargo, small children, elderly, , infirm. lacking suspensions, rides rough on ground, unbearable on rough. could, walked.

while covered wagons traveling short distances on roads drawn horses, crossing plains pulled team of 2 or more pairs of oxen. these driven teamster or drover, walked @ left side of team , directed oxen verbal commands , whipcracks. mules used, harnessed , controlled wagon reins.

one covered wagon carried belongings of 5 people. well-to-do family might have 2 or three, or group of single men traveling might share one. while crossing plains, emigrants banded form wagon trains mutual assistance , defense (the latter purpose , associated formation giving rise still-used idiom circle [or circled or circling ] wagons ).

because wagon bed narrow, many families construct “overjet” additional space. overjet created nailing boards or planks on top of wagon bed extend out on wheels. create space place mattresses sleeping on either sides of bed. additional bows inserted stretch canvas cover overjet , keep weather out. area under planks in wagon bed used storage. homesteading prairie families use wagons temporary accommodations until build more permanent housing.

prairie schooner fanciful name covered wagon drawing on broad white canvas covers, romantically envisioned sails of ship crossing sea.