Kutztown in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Conestoga Wagon
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017
1. The Conestoga Wagon Marker
In Colonial America, the Dutchman of eastern Pa. grew the nation's wheat & the Scotch-Irishman of western Pa. made the nation's rye whiskey. Both the flour from the wheat & the whiskey were barreled for shipment to eastern seaboard markets. To haul these staples to the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's early wheelwright's invented a wagon with a concave box so that the barrels would not roll off. This wagon, the greatest contribution to colonial transportation, is the Conestoga wagon.
To pull these massive freig[h]t-wagons, the Pa. farmer bred the Conestoga horse; the first native American breed of horses.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles.
Location. 40° 31.073′ N, 75° 46.997′ W. Marker is in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. It can be reached from Wentz Street. Marker is on the Kutztown Fairgrounds, home of the Kutztown Folk Festival. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 Wentz Street, Kutztown PA 19530, United States of America.
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Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Wheelbarrow Matches (here, next to this marker); Quilting Lore (here, next to this marker); The Bush Meeting (within shouting distance of this marker); Thanksgiving & Harvest Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Cider (within shouting distance of this marker); The Plain Dutch (within shouting distance of this marker); New Year's Day Lore (within shouting distance of this marker); The Candlemaker (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kutztown.
Regarding The Conestoga Wagon. Excerpt from "Today... and Yesterday" by The Morning Call
Also see . . .
1. Conestoga Wagon at Smithsonian Institution.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017
2. The Conestoga Wagon Marker and Other Markers
2. The Pennsylvania German Society. (Submitted on July 11, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. (Submitted on July 11, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 320 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
