Have
your parents ever had car trouble? Well, people traveling down the Santa
Fe Trail had wagon trouble. After making the long journey to the fort,
travelers were usually in desperate need of repairs. Wagon parts were
often jolted out of place during the bumpy ride on the rough prairie.
When they finally arrived at the fort, they were relieved to see a carpenter
and wheelwright who could repair the wagons.
Carpenter & Blacksmith
The
blacksmith made all the metal items used at the fort, such as hinges,
door handles, and latches. Trail travelers often traded goods in exchange
for the blacksmith's horse or oxen shoes. Most people used steel fire
strikers and a piece of flint rock to start their campfires. The blacksmith
made the steel fire strikers and traded them.
Have
your parents ever had car trouble? Well, people traveling down the Santa
Fe Trail had wagon trouble. After making the long journey to the fort,
travelers were usually in desperate need of repairs. Wagon parts were
often jolted out of place during the bumpy ride on the rough prairie.
When they finally arrived at the fort, they were relieved to see a carpenter
and wheelwright who could repair the wagons. 
