The Making And History Of Red River Carts

The Red River M賩s Heritage Group continues to make Red River Carts. Prior to modern times, the sawing of the different parts of the carts was done by hand, but now it is done by machine. Elm and ash are used to make spokes, floorboards, and hubs for the construction of the wheel.

Buffalo hunts consisted of entire communities participating together and lasting most of the summer months. That is, there could be between 400-500 carts taking off at one time on a hunt. If individuals did not have enough horses (or ox in some cases) to haul the carts, then the carts would be attached to each other and hauled together.

The Red River cart faded from use in the 1900s with the advent of the train and riverboats.

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