South Dakota's 125th Birthday Wagon Train - Sept 3 - 20, 2014

Join the Wagon Train

Download the Wagon Train Route Map & Itinerary (.pdf)

Download the Wagon Train Application (.pdf)

 

 

Pierre, S.D. - The route is set for the historic wagon train that will celebrate South Dakota’s 125^th anniversary of statehood.   The wagon train will start in Yankton, home of the Dakota Territory Capital, on September 3 and end at the State Capitol in Pierre on September 20.
Wagon train organizer Gerald Kessler of Fort Pierre has participated in over ninety wagon trains.  He said, “Traveling in a wagon train for 15-17 miles a day is hard work, but it’s also a lot of fun making new friends on the ride and along the route.” 
The route includes stops in 13 towns and several pastures as the wagon train makes its way on roads and cross country.
Each evening along the way, local landowners and historians will present a history of that local area.  Communities and civic groups will be sponsoring evening meals and events so local people and students can see the wagon train up close and visit with wagon train participants.
The wagon train is being sponsored by the South Dakota Draft Horse and Mule Association. The cost is $125 per participant who can then ride any or all of the 17 days of the journey.  The wagon train will supply a wagon master, outriders, toilets, water and buses to move vehicles each evening.   The participants must supply their own equipment, animals, food, livestock feed and other traveling necessities.  All fees and donations will be used to defray the costs of the wagon train. 
Thirty-six wagons and 84 people have already signed up for the wagon train from eight states - South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and Kentucky.
People can contact Gerald Kessler at 605-223-2313 for more information.

http://www.125.sd.gov/wagontrain.aspx

 

Hansen-built Stagecoach That Transported Prince William and Princess Kate Undergoes 700-hour Facelift in South Dakota Workshop

 

Letcher, S.D. (PRWEB) July 14, 2014

Doug Hansen and his team of craftsmen at Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop completed a 700-hour refurbishment of the stagecoach that ferried Prince William and Princess Kate during their visit to the states in 2011. The royal couple rode tally-ho in the fancy Touring Concord Coach owned by Express Employment Professionals at the Calgary Stampede.
The high-profile coach made its post facelift debut at a wedding in Canada in June. Originally built by Hansen Wheel and Wagon a decade and a half ago, the iconic stagecoach is a replica of the coach serving Stony Brook, Long Island in the 1800s, and is designed to provide passengers with a panoramic view from the roof seating positioned 12 feet above ground.
The facelift required that the coach be almost completely dissembled for repairs and refinishing. A show-quality finish was meticulously applied to the stagecoach body and running gear. Ornate striping and lettering, along with gold leaf scroll work and scenic hand-painted murals on the doors, were then painstakingly added. The stagecoach seats were re-upholstered in rich, Italian leather.
Used to promote the brand of Express Employment Professionals the coach is operated by Express Clydesdales Ranch in Yukon, Okla. “The stagecoach captures the essence of nostalgia and is a great marketing image,” said Doug Hansen, founder and owner of Hansen Wheel and Wagon. Other companies that have successfully implemented the nostalgic appeal of the horse-drawn vehicles into their corporate branding are Budweiser and Wells Fargo Bank (also Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop clients).
Hansen opened up shop in 1978 on the Dakota Plains building and restoring custom stagecoaches, wagons and wood wheels. “I’ve been around horses and wagons all my life, so becoming a wagon maker seemed a natural way to bring my heritage together with my love of western history to preserve that legacy for the future,” Hansen says. Thirty-six years later, the shop is the premier builder of authentic horse-drawn vehicles worldwide.
Hansen’s customers range from museums and collectors to corporate marketing departments and theme parks such as Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm. International customers include an amusement park in Japan, a historical society in Denmark, and a private ranch in Uruguay. Nearly a third of Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop’s business comes from interior designers and film production prop departments. Hansen wagons have been cast in movies such as “Dances with Wolves” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Hansen renovates vintage wagons and also builds wagons from the ground up, using original historical designs. “We do museum-quality restorations and replicas of historic vehicles, starting with careful research and documentation,” Hansen said. “We use materials and construction methods authentic to the time period to make our wagons as accurate as possible.”
While Hansen’s products are firmly rooted in the past, the company’s reach is high tech through its Magento ecommerce website, http://www.hansenwheel.com. “Our online ordering and secure payment capability allow customers to shop with us 24-7,” Hansen added. “We’re excited to bring our quality and craftsmanship to wagon enthusiasts around the world.”
For information about Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop, contact:
Doug Hansen
http://www.hansenwheel.com
or visit the company’s Facebook page, HWWS Facebook