Where did the Conestoga Wagons come from?

These wagons were first produced in the Conestoga Valley in Lancaster County. Made from the 18th century into the 19th century, these wagons quickly became the standard for commerce throughout the colonies and the early American republic.

The first mention of a Conestoga Wagon in writing can be traced back to 1717 when William Penn’s former secretary made a record of purchasing one “Conestogoe Waggon” [sic.] for the express purpose of carrying a large load of furs into the city.

Bearing the name of the original manufacturing location, the popular Conestoga wagons eventually began production throughout the greater Lancaster area where it flourished until the dawning of the industrial era.

What are they made of?

The wagon frames are made of wood, typically oak, with iron hardware.  The axles were made with hickory, hubs with gumwood, and the predominant side paneling was poplar.

Each specific wood type was selected and utilized through trial and error to have the appropriate wood type in the appropriately designated role. Having wood that is too rigid would mean that it would snap as it navigates the uneven and rough terrain of the roads. Having a wood that is too soft would give way to warping and instability when the wagon was full or in harsh conditions. It is also important to note the impressively large wheels that could stand upwards of 5 feet in diameter in the rear with an equally impressive 4-inch-thick thread and quarter inch – to inch thick iron tire. Such titanic wheels grant the driver access through terrible road conditions, while not being too large and adding too much unnecessary weight.

Furthermore, the iconic bow in the middle of the wagon was specifically added to travel the King’s Highways and other roads. The shape permitted jostling and bumping on the road to shift the items in transit into the middle of the wagon instead of the sides. This was crucial because a wagon with its center of mass so far from the ground can easily be toppled if the balance of the load is lost. By designing the wagon to automatically re-center its load, the threat of tipping over was greatly reduced.

In the event of an unlikely tip over or a broken piece of hardware, most Conestoga wagons came equipped with toolboxes on the center-left side of the vehicle. The tool kit included necessary items to repair or replace vital pieces of broken hardware.

How many Conestoga wagons were made?

It is estimated that in 1749, some 7,000 handmade Conestoga had been produced and were in use between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It is hard from here to get an accurate representation of how many were in use by the 19th century. Estimates range from as few as 10,000 to as many as 50,000.

The completed wagons were scattered to the wind. Some traveled the King’s Highways both north and south, and some stayed local – only commuting relatively short distances in daily farm life. A wagon of this type and quality would have likely cost approximately $35 in 1717 which translates to roughly $2,380 in 2023.

Image: A fully-outfitted Conestoga Wagon In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, probably late 19th century. Photo in Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center collection

What are these “King’s Highways”?

 As the name implies, King’s Highways were roads first made at the command of a King, specifically British King Charles II, with the express purpose of linking key colonial towns via land. The idea was to simplify the distribution of goods internally within the American Colonies and would be later used by the independent American nation to encourage trade and commerce between states. These highways were also instrumental in mail delivery.

As it pertains to the Pennsylvania German settlers, the King’s Highways were important because they made the transport of raw materials and goods into the markets for selling much easier. The longest highway ran from Massachusetts to South Carolina – some 1,300 miles in total. For local settlers and farmers, the especially important feature was that it ran Northeast from Baltimore, through Philadelphia, into Trenton, and then New York – a vital trade network with bustling markets. Local roads, also established as King’s Highways, allowed teamsters to take their loads from the Pennsylvania hinterlands to Philadelphia. The Upper Perkiomen Valley is home to at least one King’s Highway, running from Sumneytown in Montgomery County into Lehigh County, and “Great Roads” including present-day route 29 and Kutztown Road.

This sounds like a fantastic system for land-based commerce but that would be ignoring perhaps its greatest flaw: maintenance. In the modern era, we often complain of poor road maintenance regarding the glaring potholes and ditches in our asphalt roads. Now imagine the same issues, but instead of having it isolated to a relatively small stretch of road, spread it out across the entirety of your journey. Imagine a “road” surface that would sometimes be little more than a clearing in the vegetation and the hardest surface you are driving on is the rocks jutting out of the deeply rutted dirt at odd angles. Such was the status of the King’s Highways on a dry day. Introduce rain and the problems get worse with deep mud, slick rocks, and portions being flooded out.

The Conestoga Wagons were specifically designed to withstand the rigors of the perilous roads of colonial and early American life. The previously mentioned wheels and sturdy frame made traversing such difficult terrain more tolerable and less damaging to the goods being transported – and to the drivers as well.

Image: This colonial period map drawn by Schwenkfelder descendant David Schultz shows a road between Lancaster and Philadelphia (the double dashed lines) and what was probably a path between the Goschenhoppen area (the present-day Upper Perkiomen Valley) and Philadelphia (the tiny dotted line).

What is the importance of Conestoga wagons to the history of the Schwenkfelder populations, or Pennsylvania Germans as a whole?

These wagons were an important staple of everyday life for the American settlers. Since these wagons were produced in the Conestoga Valley of Pennsylvania, their prevalence in this region, predominately populated with a Pennsylvania German population, was immeasurable. Everything from hauling farm equipment around their properties, shipping goods and raw materials to the markets in town, and the delivery of parts and goods to help in early industrialization. The rugged design made it possible for the wagons to traverse difficult roads and ford streams all while keeping the contents safe.

Image: An early 19th century drawing by a member of the Krauss family depicting a Conestoga Wagon teamster, team and wagon stopped at an inn.