Travelin' By Stagecoach

3 Minutes

Stagecoach

Often braving terrible weather, pitted roads, treacherous terrain, and Indian and bandit attacks, the stagecoach lines valiantly carried on during  westward expansion, despite the hazards.

Though stagecoach travel for passengers was uncomfortable, it was often the only means of travel and was certainly safer than traveling alone. If passengers wanted to sleep, they were required to do so sitting up and it was considered bad etiquette to rest ones head on another passenger. There were also numerous other rules required of passengers including abstaining from liquor, not cursing or smoking if ladies were present, and others.

Though there were many types of stagecoaches used for various purposes, the most often used for passenger service was the Concord Stagecoach, which was first built in 1827.

Designed by the Abbot Downing Company, the coach utilized leather strap braces underneath, which gave them a swinging motion instead of using a spring suspension, which jostled passengers up and down. Over the years, the New Hampshire based company manufactured over forty different types of carriages and wagons, earning a reputation that their coaches rarely broke down, rather they just “wore out.” The coaches weighted more than a ton and cost between $1500 and $1800 at the time. The stages had three seats, providing for nine passengers with little leg room. Passengers were also allowed to ride on top. The term “stage” originally referred to the distance between stations as each coach traveled the route in “stages.”