Explore our collection of traditional sheep wagons and shepherd's huts. We specialize in building and restoring these iconic structures, including Basque sheep wagons. Contact us today!
General area of Roundup, Montana beside US Hwy. 12. Had never seen one of these but knew instantly what it was. I remember my Dad telling of going up into the mountains of Wyoming in the 1960,s to see a setup like this, with a herder tending the band of sheep for months at a time. Clear channel radio at night was the entertainment. It was setting at the end of the lane, so was able to take several photos of it and look around. The beauty of traveling alone, not sure that stopping to check this out would interest many beside me. .................................................................................................................................................................... History of the American Sheepwagon (Text "Sheepwagon, Home on the Range" by Nancy Weidel 2001) The sheepwagon is an object of fascination to many people today. The sheepwagon itself is a marvel of practicality and efficiency. And people often wonder who invented the sheepwagon. The traditional design of the sheepwagon, along with the placement of such defining interior features as bed, stove, table, and benches had become standardized by 1900, just sixteen years after it's invention. But not every sheepwagon was built just alike; in fact, quite the opposite is true. Designed to provide shelter and heat, mobility and storage, the sheepwagon was the ideal home for the herder. Although the first wagons had only a canvas flap for a door, a Dutch door, or "stable door" as the English called it, quickly replaced the flap and became one of the sheepwagon's most prominent features. The door's top half could remain open while the bottom stayed shut. This feature served several purposes; with the top open, the herder could hear and see his sheep. The open top door also provided ventilation for the wagon and modulated the heat of the stove, which could be quite intense. A closed bottom door also kept out the herder's dogs and other animals. According to ranchers, however, the primary function of the Dutch door was to allow a herder or camptender to stand within the wagon - or even sit on the side bench or a box - and still be able to extend his arms through the open top door to hold the horses' reins when the wagon was being moved. The sheepwagon has retained its original interior configuration because the placement of its door on the front, and its component parts such as the bed and stove, utilized the small space in the most efficient manner possible. One observation of the interior of the western sheepwagon was the remarkable resemblance to a ship's cabin, another version of a compact, efficient living space. Both have well-designed storage areas, built-in benches, retractable or fold-down tables, and a sleeping berth. A story is told of two old sheep-herders, both former sailors, who finally felt at home in the western desert which they described "like being on a dry sea." A term often applied to the deserts and high plains is "a sea of grass," the empty landscape consisting of only two elements, treeless earth against a huge sky, the undulating hills resembling waves on the ocean. Although no documentary evidence appears to exist that would confirm it, most experts agree the first sheepwagons were probably improvised by sheepmen of the northern territories since it was here that they needed protection from the harsh weather. They began with a standard wagon box about ten feet long and three feet wide. The bows of such light freight of farm wagons could easily be covered with canvas and outfitted with perhaps a bedroll inside. Adding a built-in bunk and fastening a small stove to the floor were the next logical steps in the evolution of the crude house on wheels. By the 1900s, as the sheep business continued to expand rapidly throughout the western states, sheepcamps were in demand. A rancher had a choice as to where he could obtain a sheepwagon. He might build one himself or obtain one through the local blacksmith. Blacksmiths played a key role not only in the invention and modification of the first sheepwagons, but also in the subsequent building and repair. ..................... The full article this came from can be found below: www.wilsoncamps.com/history.html
Sheep Wagon | Preserving History | Sheep Wagon-sheep camp
We do custom builds and restorations. Photos of past projects for inspiration.
all photos by Christa Tippmann Photography modeled by Raceine Tippmann This generous shawl, knit from a richly colored blend o...
Our Traditional Style Sheep Wagonstep inside our sheep wagon Sheep Wagons 12 foot long queen bed -Custom cabinet's - electric out lite antique hardware-custom front step All Handcrafted all
Step Inside our Sheep Wagons | Sheep Wagon-sheep camp
My friend Julie's family comes from a ranching family in eastern Nevada and various antique items have made it into her home including a full-size sheep wagon that now sits comfortably in her backyard. The wagon was formerly used by her husband and father to camp in while they went hunting in the wilderness of
This shows how the bolster irons are made and how they are fitted to most common wagon gears. Part 4 of building a wagon gear from scratch. The bolsters ar...
Tapered, angled dados, angled mortise & tenons, blacksmithing & forging are all involved in a horsedrawn wagon undercarriage. This is part 2 and these are a...
This award-winning shelter is ideal for counting sheep
Explore Live2Ski's 25405 photos on Flickr!
We started by restoring the antique wood spoke running gear – original running gear was purchased on old farm in Idaho. We build our Sheep Wagons from the ground up. We built old style boxes …
Distressed Copper Top Sheep Wagon via Hansen wheel and wagon
Originally built in 1912 and restored last year, this sheep wagon tiny home can be your idyllic creative retreat.
December is a chilly time to be living outdoors in Wyoming, but the lives of the sheepherders visiting from Peru, their dogs, and their horses revolve around the needs of the sheep... which takes them to pastures all over Wyoming. See what the wagon looks like tucked in at camp. Views 1138 as of 2 May 2011. Canon 40D, f5, 1/400, ISO 400, focal length 100mm, RAW, Red Desert north of Rock Springs, Wyoming, USA. Thank you for the Features in: - Cowboy and Cowgirl Art January 2010 - Horses At Work January 2010 - Simply Horses, February 2010 - Dimensions, March 2010 - Equine Athletes, March 2010 - The Wild West Show, September 2010 - Animals and People, October 2010 - Just The Horse, December 2010 - United: Australia, UK, USA, and Canada, March 2011 - Great Plains of North America, May 2011 - Horse and Rider, June 2011 Winner in: - Horses at Work challenge (co-winner due to a tie), February 2011 (“See winning banner/message from the host in the comment section” ) - Horse & Rider challenge, "Horses That Pull Or Tow Things", December 2010. Thanks to all who participated! See also: "Sheepherding, Red Desert, Wyoming" "Wave of Sheep" "Sheep Dog in Training"
This is the completion of the new sheep wagon gear made from scratch. Idaho Sheep Camp will be building the top for these undercarriages. Thank you for watc...
The wheelwright trade involves building wheels and undercarriages. This sheep wagon gear will be built new, from scratch. The same style gear is used for c...
You wouldn’t know it today when you drive across Colorado and Wyoming, seeing cattle grazing with sheep herds nearby, that a century ago such
Gypsy Wagon: here is the second Gypsy wagon I built along with some friends . I hope you enjoy it.
