Wagon, four-wheeled vehicle designed to be drawn by draft animals and known to have been used as early as the 1st century bc, incorporating such earlier innovations as the spoked wheel and metal wheel rim. Early examples also had such features as pivoted front axles and linchpins to secure the wheels.

What time period were wagons?

Americans would use wagons as a major mode of transportation for nearly two centuries. The peak years of usage were 1820 to 1860, when Americans used wagons to move out west before railroads became more common.

What were wagons called in the 1800s?

During the 1700s through the 1800s, the Conestoga wagon was a reliable way to transport a large number of products—around 12,000 pounds—between stores and settlements. The construction of the wagon was very sturdy, protecting goods from damage as the wagon traveled along bumpy roads and through water.