The "Tales From The Museum: The Conestoga Wagon" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Standing in front of a rather unique model constructed and carved from what appears to be mostly wood.  The model is a Conestoga wagon and team of horses with bells on their harnesses.  

The Conestoga wagon pulled by a team of six horses.  Made in Conestoga, Pennsylvania.

Sitting on one of the rear horses is the driver of the team.  The model was crafted by Mr. Samuel C. Martzell and is alleged to be fully operational.  It is on loan from the Landis Valley Farm Museum.  Conestoga wagons were a type of covered wagon used during colonial times.  

Black and white photo of a Conestoga wagon.  Click to enlarge.

They were meant to haul heavy freight over rough terrain.  Most could carry about 6 tons of cargo.  The floor was curved like a bowl in order to help keep items being transported from spilling off the ends of the wagon as they crossed bumpy terrain.  The wagon got its name since it was first build in Conestoga, Pennsylvania around 1750.  Conestoga is a small hamlet a few miles south of Lancaster, PA.  The wagon was usually pulled by a team of 6 to 8 horses or oxen.  

Close up of he wheel.  Remember, this is a miniature model
that was built by Sam Martzell.  The brake can be seen in
front of the wheel.

The length of the wagon and team could reach 60 feet.  The cover over the wagon was made of canvas which was stretched over 8 to 12 wooden bows and helped protect those riding in the wagon as well as the contents of the wagon from the hot summer sun or cold of winter as well as provide privacy.  The wheels of the wagon were about 6 feet in diameter to help clear ruts in the roads as well as tree stumps.  They were made of oak and perhaps 10 inches deep to help the wagon from sinking in the mud.  Conestoga wagons were recognizable due to their wheels or body painted red.  The wagon stood about 12 feet high and was close to 24 feet in length from the front to rear tip of the canvas covering.  A feed box was on the rear of the wagon to hold the feed for the team that pulled the wagon.  Tool chests were usually on either side of the wagon and sat next to a water barrel that was needed for long trips.  

You can see the tongue coming from the wagon and going
between the first two horses.  It connected the team
to the wagon.  The rider would sit close to the wagon.

A "Lazy Board" was an oak board that projected outside the wagon and held the driver who would guide the team and operate the brake.  The tongue of the wagon came out the front of the wagon and was connected to the last team of oxen or horses.  The sides of the wooden wagon were very deep to protect from attacks of bullets and arrows.  The wooden boards along the sides had joints that were joined with pitch or tar to keeps water out of the body of the wagon.  The front and rear of the wagon had a slanted cover over it to protect it from the elements.  Later generations of the wagon were called "prairie schooners."  

The wooden box at the rear would hold feed for the horses.
The canvas roof is slanted in front and rear to keep out
the rain and snow as well as shade the wagon from the sun.

They were smaller and carried less weight and looked like "boats" as they crossed the prairies. The Conestoga wagon was developed to carry large loads over rough terrain for long distances.  They could carry farm produce to furs from Philadelphia or Baltimore to points west as settlers began their movement west.  The wagon was so efficient that it was given the name "the ship of inland commerce".  It was used primarily from the 1820s to the 1850s until the railroad crossed the Appalachian Mountains.  Mr. Martzell's wagon was crafted to be a fully functional Conestoga wagon.  Would have been a fantastic toy for a child.  The photograph that accompanied the model on display was taken by Mr. Walter Miesse around 1920.  It is part of the permanent collection of LancasterHistory.org.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.