Eric O. answered • 06/02/19
History PhD. 1000+ hours insturction. Multiple residencies outside US
That's a good question! Horses and wagons were common until the 1920s-1940s, when they were replaced by the automobile. Trains can take you from city to city, but only to train stations. After that wagon teams were used to take people literally everywhere else. They were also still used in farming until around the same time, when they were replaced by tractors.
Usually wagons were uncovered because they are easier to load and unload. People would add covers if they were taking long treks and wanted a place to get out of the sun.
Catherine B.
My grandmother was 11 years old when in 1936 her and her mother traveled from Oklahoma to Washington state by covered wagon. I know they weren’t alone and there were other wagons. For the western mountain pass they were on the famous Oregon trail. It may have been much less common by then, but it was still happening. Most writups make folks think the wagon trains ended in the 1800s but we know better.02/22/23
Lynn S.
My grandfather was born in 1895 and told me he came from Pennsylvania to Oregon by covered wagon when he was a very young child.03/24/23
Julie S.
My great grandmother was born in 1913 in Round Top New Mexico and my grandmother came along in 1931 and she told stories on her wagon travels.07/27/23
Gayle A.
My grandmother talked about taking a covered wagon from southern California to central California when they moved circa 1910. I know automobiles have been around since the late 1800's but not everyone had one until at least the late 1930's or early 1940's. I know my grandparents had one in the early 1920's.08/19/22