Conestoga wagon

The Conestoga Wagon is a heavy, broad-wheeled covered freight carrier used extensively during the United States' Westward Expansion in the late 1700s and 1800s. It was large enough to transport loads up to 8 short tons (7 metric tons), and was drawn by 4 to 8 horses or up to a dozen mules or oxen.

Related Topics:
United States - 1700s - 1800s - Short ton - Metric ton - Horse - Mule - Oxen

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A variant of the conestoga wagon, the Prairie Schooner, was used by pioneers traveling to the newly opened West. Pioneers would take long, hard journeys north along the Oregon Trail, Highland trail, and Chisholm trail in these wagons. They could take few of their most valued items due to the tight spacing.

Related Topics:
Prairie Schooner - Oregon Trail - Chisholm - Wagons

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Conestogas and prairie schooners are very much alike, yet they still have their differences. A conestoga is a large, box-shaped covered wagon. They were used to travel on dirt paths, grass and mild mountain terrain. Prairie Schooners are broad wheeled wagons, usually with a white canvas roof. They were designed to cross North American prairies and were roughly half the size of the conestoga.

Related Topics:
Canvas - Roof

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