Red River Cart Spoked Wheels Fort Walsh Saskatchewan

A Red River cart on display at the Fort Walsh National Historic Site in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in Saskatchewan, Canada shows the making of the spoked wheels.

When visiting the Fort Walsh National Historic Site in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in Saskatchewan, Canada, one can trace the history of the North West Company fur trading. One of the displays is this Red River Cart with its massive spoked wheels which were the latest ones used to carry twice the load.

The cart first appeared in 1801 with three-foot solid wheels with four spokes, eventually changing to the many spoked wheels. Some of the tires were made of shaganappi (rawhide) making it easier to travel longer distances and tote larger loads.

The wheels were broad so they did not cut into the prairie sod and the spokes were longer to get through shallow rivers or streams and mud holes. The Red River carts would travel in a single line unless the threat of Indians were near, then they would travel side by side.