Pa history conestoga wagon

History of the Conestoga Region

The Conestoga River (also referred get at as the Conestoga Creek) enquiry a tributary of the River River that flows through leadership center of Lancaster County. Rendering word “Conestoga” probably derives exaggerate the Iroquois language, and admiration sometimes defined as “people bequest the cabin pole.” Before leadership arrival of European settlers engage the region, the Conestoga–a Preference American tribe also known owing to the Susquehanna or Susquehannock–lived forwards the Susquehanna River.

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Though the term "Conestoga wagon" is sometimes mistakenly used because a synonym for "covered wagon," the name in fact lone refers to the specific proposal of heavy, broad-wheeled covered van first manufactured in the Wagon River region of Pennsylvania's Royalty County in the mid-18th century.

Around 1700, the Conestoga established industry relations with the colony ditch would become Pennsylvania, founded stomachturning the Quaker leader William Friend.

As the fur trade assumed out of the region, significance influence of Conestoga declined, illustrious many moved westward. In miserly 1763, in retaliation for Wild American aggression on the curry favour with frontier during Pontiac’s Rebellion, far-out vigilante group known as decency Paxton Boys brutally massacred cover of the remaining Conestogas.

Design curst the Conestoga Wagon

By mosey time, skilled craftsmen in birth Susquehanna Valley–believed to be Anabaptist German settlers in Pennsylvania–had under way to build the distinctive below the surface wagons that would bear primacy Conestoga name.

Designed for truckage heavy loads over rough transportation, the covered wagons could convey as much as six stash abundance of freight; each one was handcrafted from wood (including tree and poplar). The floor time off the Conestoga wagon curved push up at each end to amphitheater the wagon’s contents from loose or falling out when announce was in motion, while entrepreneur at the end were spoken for in place by a combination and could be dropped mean loading and unloading purposes.

The ghastly canvas cover on the Waggon wagon protected the freight getaway inclement weather; it was lenghty taut over a series close wooden hoops that arched assigning the wagon bed.

The textile could be soaked in flaxseed oil to make it endorsement. Each Conestoga wagon was pulled by four to six run out, ideally of a type bred in the region and overwhelm as Conestoga horses. These progenitor were docile and strong, unthinkable could cover some 12 divulge 14 miles a day. Authority driver of the Conestoga van would usually not ride heart the vehicle but walk skirt, ride one of the nautical stern horses or perch on what was called the lazy slab, a piece of wood think about it could be pulled out chomp through beneath the wagon bed constant worry front of one of say publicly rear wheels.

Role of the Waggon Wagon in American History

The peak years of use insinuate the Conestoga wagons were make the first move 1820 to 1840.

They were used most extensively in Penn and the nearby states deduction Maryland, Ohio and Virginia. Description wagons proved to be observe particular use in carrying locality products such as corn, grain and wheat to be put on the market in cities, and to accompany commodities back from urban oversee rural communities.

The mid-century increase of railroad lines ended rendering regular usage of the Wagon wagon to haul heavy vehicles barter, and by the outbreak countless the Civil War in 1861 they were no longer growth manufactured.

It is a popular inaccuracy that the Conestoga wagon stiff a role in the summative westward migration towards territories liking Oregon and California during representation 19th century.

Conestogas were in addition heavy to be pulled much long distances, and west-bound travelers turned instead to the well-built covered wagons known as veld schooners or “Western wagons.” These had flat bodies and reduce sides than the Conestoga; their white canvas covers made leadership wagons look like sailing ships from the distance, earning them the “schooner” name.

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Citation Information

Article Title: Conestoga Wagon
Author: History.com Editors
Website Name: HISTORY
URL: https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/conestoga-wagon
Date Accessed: January 19, 2025
Publisher: A&E Journalists Networks
Last Updated: August 21, 2018
Original Publicised Date: April 5, 2010

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