The covered wagon made
8 to 20 miles per day
depending upon weather, roadway conditions and the health of the travelers. It could take up to six months or longer to reach their destination.
How many miles a day did they travel on the Oregon Trail?
When pulled by teams of oxen or mules, they could creak their way toward Oregon Country at a pace of around
15 to 20 miles a day
.
How long did wagon trains take to cross the country?
The wagon train would travel at around two miles an hour. This enabled the emigrants to average ten miles a day. With good weather the 2,000 mile journey from Missouri to California and Oregon would take
about five months
.
How many wagons were usually in a wagon train?
The wagon train is probably one of those images. What exactly was a wagon train? It was a group of covered wagons, usually
around 100
of them. These carried people and their supplies to the West before there was a transcontinental railroad.
What was it like to travel in a covered wagon?
The wagons would travel in
a single line
so that from a distance they looked like a slow-moving train. If the trail was wide enough, they would sometimes spread out to get away from each other’s dust. At night the wagons would form a big circle with the front of one wagon facing the back of another.
Why didn’t most pioneers ride in their wagons?
Teams of oxen or mules pulled the wagons along the dusty trail. People didn’t ride in the wagons often,
because they didn’t want to wear out their animals
. Instead they walked alongside them, getting just as dusty as the animals. The long journey was hard on both people and animals.
How many Americans died on the Oregon Trail?
Combined with accidents, drowning at dangerous river crossings, and other illnesses,
at least 20,000 people
died along the Oregon Trail. Most trailside graves are unknown, as burials were quick and the wagon trains moved on.
Are wagon train stories true?
The series,
inspired by the 1950 John Ford film “Wagon Master
,” detailed the travails of people aboard a wagon train journeying from Missouri to California after the Civil War. Mr. Horton was the show’s heartthrob, often given occasions to remove his shirt.
How much did it cost to join a wagon train?
The overland journey from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon or California meant a six-month trip across 2,000 miles of hard country. It was costly—as much as $1,000 for a family of four. That fee included a wagon at
about $100
.
How long was a typical wagon train?
The wagon train would travel at around two miles an hour. This enabled the emigrants to average ten miles a day. With good weather the 2,000 mile journey from Missouri to California and Oregon would take
about five months
.
Did pioneers sleep in covered wagons?
Some pioneers did sleep in their wagons
. Some did camp on the ground—either in the open or sheltered under the wagon. But many used canvas tents. Despite the romantic depictions of the covered wagon in movies and on television, it would not have been very comfortable to travel in or sleep in the wagon.
How much did wagons cost in the 1800s?
It was costly—
as much as $1,000 for a family of four
. That fee included a wagon at about $100. Usually four or six animals had to pull the wagon.
How much weight could a covered wagon carry?
Designed for hauling heavy loads over rough roads, the covered wagons could carry as much
as six tons of freight
; each one was handcrafted from wood (including oak and poplar).
What was the main item that pioneers brought with them in their covered wagons?
The pioneers would take with them as many supplies as possible. They took
cornmeal, bacon, eggs, potatoes, rice, beans, yeast, dried fruit, crackers, dried meat
, and a large barrel of water that was tied to the side of the wagon.
What were the two main causes of death along the trail?
Nearly one in ten who set off on the Oregon Trail did not survive. The two biggest causes of death were
disease and accidents
.
What was the main cause of death to pioneers on the trail?
Diseases and serious illnesses caused the deaths of nine out of ten pioneers. Such diseases as
cholera
, small pox, flu, measles, mumps, tuberculosis could spread quickly through an entire wagon camp. Cholera was the main scourge of the trail. … However, many would linger in misery for weeks in the bouncy wagons.
