A Rare View INSIDE A Covered Wagon (5 Photos) One of the more unique periods in American History is the Great Westward Migration. These wagons were used primarily to transport goods to market. The pioneers took one of three trails -- the Sante Fe Trail, the California Trail, or the Oregon Trail.
Covered wagon Narrow covered wagon used by west-bound Canadian settlers c. 1885 Painting showing a wagon train of covered wagons A covered wagon, also called a prairie wagon, whitetop, [1] or prairie schooner, [2] is a horse. The inside of a pioneer wagon, or 'prairie schooner' as they were often called, was designed first for utility and then for comfort.
Enough supplies to last the occupants for up to six months had to be packed into an area usually ten feet long and four feet wide (about the same amount of room as the inside of a VW van). An emigrant wagon was not comfortable to ride in, since wagons lacked springs and there was little room to sit inside the wagon because most space was taken up with cargo. The three main parts of a prairie wagon were the bed, the undercarriage, and the cover.
BED = was a rectangular wooden box, usually 4 feet wide by 10 feet long. Learn about the various parts and components of a traditional covered wagon with our detailed diagram. Discover the history and function of each element.
The wagons had springs, but if you did try to ride, it was a bone-jarring trip and most people didn't bother. Advancements in wagon design - it's probably a stretch to call it "technology" - resulted in the slightly smaller, perhaps faster, "prairie schooner," replacing the Conestoga in the middle of the century. Explore the components and layout of a covered wagon with our detailed diagram.
Learn about the history and significance of these iconic vehicles. Explore the parts of a covered wagon with a detailed diagram. Understand each component's role in the structure and function of this classic vehicle.
You'll notice that there wasn't much room in these smaller wagons, but they all fit when the weather turned bad. On clear nights, the women slept in the wagons, while the men slept underneath the wagons or around a fire. Let's take a closer look As you can see, there isn't much room for relaxation!