Conestoga Wagon Wood Crafts

Make a toy covered wagon model for a child to play with.

When pioneers made the trip West to settle new lands, they typically traveled in a Conestoga wagon, also known as a prairie schooner. Made from such woods as oak, hickory and maple, these iconic images make for great crafts because they capture the pioneering spirit and lend themselves to a variety of creative approaches. Dust off your woodworking skills and choose a project that celebrates the Conestoga wagon.

Burnt Wood Etchings

Wood burning, or pyrography, is a form of art that can have dramatic results. Find yourself an appropriately sized piece of wood and burn into it a picture of a covered wagon. Wood burning tools can let you make intricate details. You could also use a larger piece and show a prairie setting with a Conestoga wagon in the distance. These crafts make great wall hangings that come with their own natural framing. Consider using the same type of wood that Conestoga wagons were originally made from.

Wagon Model Centerpieces

Create a centerpiece by combining silk or dried flowers and prairie grass with the framework of a Conestoga wagon. Find or build the box, attach a few wooden wheels and then make the hoops that are on top of the wagon. Instead of covering the wagon with cloth, wrap ivy, plants and flowers around the hoops and arrange the fauna into an attractive centerpiece. For an additional touch, add a sachet of cinnamon or lavender to the bottom of the wagon for a fragrant treat. The centerpiece could also be transformed into a flower pot.

Scale Models

Gather appropriate kinds of wood, such as maple, oak or hickory. Draw a scale model on paper, or use a computer design program. Then cut and sand your pieces of wood to the right shapes and sizes and begin assembling your wagon. Alternatively, buy a Conestoga wagon kit and put it together from the pieces provided. This can make a great modeling starter kit. Research Conestoga wagons to determine which colors you might want to use to paint the wagon.

Full-Size Wagons

For an even bigger project, make a full-size reproduction of a Conestoga wagon. This will require a great deal of research via looking into methods pioneers used, pictures of the wagons and calculations of how much weight you want it to be able to hold. The originals were able to carry about 2,000 lbs. How accurate you want the wagon to be will depend on whether you're creating it for a parade, an exhibition or your back yard. Decide how authentic you want to be and whether you'll use power tools that the pioneers would not have had access to.

References

• Oracle ThinkQuest: Conestoga Wagon
• For Wood Lovers: Wood Burning or "Pyrography"
• Scale Model Horse-Drawn Vehicles: An Introduction

Resources

• Bob's Plans: Top Woodworking Sites
• Gallopade: Make a Contestoga Wagon
• Wheels that Won the West; Twisted, Bent & Bowed; David Sneed
• Lesson Planet: Building a Conestoga Wagon Lesson Plans