Road Trip
As the sign reads:
Concord Stagecoach
Subsidized by government contracts, stage lines, such as Wells Fargo and Company began carrying passengers as well as mail into the Western United States in 1840. Stage coaching quickly became the most elegant form of transcontinental transportation.
The coaches were pulled by teams of 6 horses or mules and ran 24 hours a day. They traveled at 8-10 mph and could accomodate 9 passengers inside. Mail and other valuables would ride with the driver. The journey was one of constant rocking and the passengers were exposed to the elements due to the lack of glassed windows. The average fare from St. Louis to San Francisco totaled $300.00. The trip would take 16 days.
The Concord Coach, manufactured by Abbott - Downing of Concord, New Hampshire. quickly became the most popular stagecoach model. It's egg shaped design maintained strength and stability whole not sacrificing speed. The coach body rocked on leather straps called "thorough braces" instead of springs. The braces functioned as shock absorbers, allowing the coach body to sway forwards and backwards as well as sideways.
This coach is a replica of a Concord built by Gronway Parry in the early 1950's. Please climb inside and imagine yourself traveling through the west. Just remember to watch out for boulders in the road and bandits on the prairie.
Road Trip
As the sign reads:
Concord Stagecoach
Subsidized by government contracts, stage lines, such as Wells Fargo and Company began carrying passengers as well as mail into the Western United States in 1840. Stage coaching quickly became the most elegant form of transcontinental transportation.
The coaches were pulled by teams of 6 horses or mules and ran 24 hours a day. They traveled at 8-10 mph and could accomodate 9 passengers inside. Mail and other valuables would ride with the driver. The journey was one of constant rocking and the passengers were exposed to the elements due to the lack of glassed windows. The average fare from St. Louis to San Francisco totaled $300.00. The trip would take 16 days.
The Concord Coach, manufactured by Abbott - Downing of Concord, New Hampshire. quickly became the most popular stagecoach model. It's egg shaped design maintained strength and stability whole not sacrificing speed. The coach body rocked on leather straps called "thorough braces" instead of springs. The braces functioned as shock absorbers, allowing the coach body to sway forwards and backwards as well as sideways.
This coach is a replica of a Concord built by Gronway Parry in the early 1950's. Please climb inside and imagine yourself traveling through the west. Just remember to watch out for boulders in the road and bandits on the prairie.