Conestoga Wagon -- Ranching Heritage Center, Lubbock TX
N 33° 35.458 W 101° 53.050
14S E 232339 N 3720533
A historic Conestoga Wagon is on display inside the Ranching Heritage Center, Lubbock TX
Waymark Code: WMV5Q8
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 02/27/2017
Views: 1
One of several vintage carriages, surreys, and other conveyances on display, the classic Conestoga Wagon maybe the most familiar to visitors. The wagon is on display inside the Ranching Heritage Center, on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock TX.
An interpretive sign nearby reads as follows:
“CONESTOGA WAGON
Ca. 1820
A heavy, covered wagon used extensively during the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century in the United States and Canada. It was large enough transport loads up to 6 tons and was drawn by horses, mules or oxen. The seams in the body of the wagon were stuffed with tar to protect them from leaking while crossing rivers. Also for protection against bad weather, stretched across the wagon was a tough, white canvas cover. Water barrels were built on the side of the wagon, toolboxes held tools needed for repair, and a feed box on the back of the wagon was used to feed the horses. The early freight wagon was not intended to be ridden upon. The wagon had a brake handle on the left side between the two wheels, and the teamster either walked beside the wagon, or could ride standing (and could sit for a rough ride) on a pull-out board, called a lazy board, that provided access to the brake handle. Left horse near the wagon was referred to as the wheel horse and was sometimes ridden. The Conestoga wagon began the “driving” on the right-hand side of the road."
Group that erected the marker: Ranching Heritage Center
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
3121 4th St
Lubbock, TX
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