Following are sections to the most common asked questions about the Fort Seward, Inc. wagon train. You may find the answers to many of your questions on this page:
	About the Wagons About Clothing and What to Bring About the Saddle Horses General Wagon Train Questions Travel and Accommodations Tips from past Trail Riders

Q: Will we have to walk all the time or can we sit in the wagon?

A: Unless you are a full time saddle horse rider, your registration reserves your seat on a wagon. You can stay on the covered wagon most of the time if you wish. The teamster (wagon driver) may ask you to walk if there is a portion of the trail that gets difficult for the horses. This doesn't happen very often. Every year we have 2 or more participants that never do ride the wagons, they walk all the way. The choice most of the time is up to you.

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Q: How many people are assign to a wagon for seating?

A: Approximately 10-12, depending on the size of the wagon. Some wagons we use are larger, some smaller.

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Q: Are there seats in the wagons or do we sit on the floor, should I bring a cushion?

A: All our wagons are the wider flared box pioneer farmer wagons. They have two board seats running along both side walls. Some seats have a slight cushion some don't. You may bring a small cushion to sit on if you wish, but the cushion will be your responsibility to keep track of.

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Q: Can our family or friends be assigned to the same wagon or will we be divided up on several wagons?

A: If your registrations arrive in the same envelope, we will try to keep you together. If you wish to be divided up, be sure to request that fact with our Registrar when you register. If your registrations were sent in different envelopes, and you want to share the same wagon, you'll need to let the Registrar know which names you'd like on the same wagon.

Q: I don't know how to sew and I don't really want to hire sewing done. Is there a place we can rent pioneer clothing?

A: Yes, try: Hodge Podge, 1415 Interstate Loop, Bismarck, ND 58501 Phone: 701-224-9073. They have pioneer clothing, bonnets etc. in lots of colors and sizes. The rental will be between $12.00 and $20.00 for a costume plus the shipping cost to you and back. You will have to sign a rental agreement. Be sure to tell them you want a pioneer cotton type outfit to use for the Fort Seward Wagon Train, and how long you need it, and give them a color you would prefer to wear.

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Q: Where can I get custom sewing of pioneer clothing done?

A: You can check with your local stores that carry fabrics on bolts. They often have a bulletin board or a list of folks who do sewing in your area. Some home sewers are very reasonable in price. Also, you could check with Sew-What, they will custom sew pioneer clothing for you.

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Q: Where can I get sewing patterns for pioneer clothing?

A: Try looking in pattern books like McCall's and Simplicity. Look in the costume section there are usually Centennial patterns there. Also if you are talented with sewing, often times a dress from the wedding section of the pattern books can be suitable with a few minor alterations.

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Q: Would a blouse with a long skirt with a tie or elastic waistband be okay to wear.

A: Yes. You can add an old brooch, shawl, or apron to give it a late 1800's look. Some clothes we have in our own closets may work fine with a little added accessories or alterations.

Q: I'm coming with my horse, can I sit on the wagon if I get tired of riding?

A: Your horse is your responsibility. If your horse is gentle you could try offering it to another trail rider to ride in exchange for their seating space in their wagon for a time. However, Fort Seward does not provide liability insurance for saddle horses. Be sure to have good liability insurance coverage on your horse before you come on the wagon train. Consider bringing a friend along, you both can take turns riding in a wagon or riding on the horse.

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Q: Will the horse feed fee include grain?

A: No, it only includes hay. If you wish to bring feed, you will have to carry the feed to your tent location and to the baggage trailer daily. For that reason we recommend that you measure out the feed your horse will need during the week. Line the inside of a duffle bag with a plastic garbage bag and measure your feed inside to keep dry in case of rain. Use two duffle bags if to heavy to carry in one. Bring along the coffee can or plastic cup you measured your feed with, so you can measure out the same for feedings. Most paper or plastic feed bags will rupture in the baggage trailer so use a cotton canvas or nylon duffle bag available at stores where camping supplies or army surplus can be found. Duffle bags can also be home sewn.

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Q: What is required to bring my saddle horse to North Dakota?

A: You will need a current health certificate, a negative Coggins certificate, and a brand release. You should also consider vaccination that your Vet. would recommend. Please note that we also have the West Nile Virus in North Dakota, so it maybe wise to vaccinate your horse several weeks before coming, for this virus.

Top Index

General Wagon Train Questions

Q: I understand we are to met at the Fort Seward Park, where is the Park located?

A: The Park is in the NW part of the city on the crest of a grass covered hill overlooking the city. The old fort is gone but some of the cellar areas of the buildings remain. There are sheltered picnic tables there and historic marker. It's address is 1100 5th Street Northwest (look for signs). Click here for a Map of Jamestown, ND.

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Q: Can we use our camper during the wagon train, or if I come by car, where does it get parked?

A: You'll need to tent, campers are not allowed on the Fort Seward wagon train. Your camper or car can be parked with the other participant vehicles at a designated Jamestown parking lot, and will be patrolled by the Jamestown Police Department at random times.

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Q: Do we need to bring our own plates, cups, silverware?

A: We provide plates, cups, plastic silverware.

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Q: What is used for a rest room, is there one or do we have to find a tree to hide behind?

A: We have a portable 4-stall "Biffy" latrine, and we provide toilet paper.  There will be a "Biffy" break in mid-morning and mid-afternoons. The "Biffy will also be available at the Noon stop and the Evening Campsite.

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Q: What should we pack, what do we need to bring?

A: For a helpful packing list, download to this .pdf file from our website Checklist.

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Q: Will First Aid be available?

A: We know this is modern, but for our safety, we do have a vehicle follow us during the wagon train with First Aid supplies, and a driver trained in First Aid.

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Q: Okay, we're registered for the wagon train. What are your hidden fees, as an example, am I going to have to pay extra for dessert or a place to pitch my tent?

A: We don't have "surprise" fees for you to pay. You don't need food, eating supplies or toilet paper. But bring your favorite treats or snacks to eat and we have a Pioneer Barter night. People bring small homemade craft items or souvenirs from their state to "Barter" with the other trail riders, a fun and noisy event that lasts for about a half hour before campfire program, as we all get to trade our "goods" with each other. The day and time for "Barter Night" will be announced during the wagon train. Otherwise, you have the cost of getting here and getting home. You'll need camping items, and clothing similar to the late 1880's. Blue jeans were available then.

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Q: Will there be souvenirs available during the wagon train, should I bring along some money?

A: Yes, we have a Cook Book, shoulder patches, songbooks, and post cards. Near the end of the wagon train a quilt and a few novelty memory items will be auctioned off for the highest donations to Fort Seward to the wagon train participants and volunteer staff only. You do not have to buy any of these items if you don't want to.

We are non-profit, our registrations fees do not cover all the wagon train expenses, but we want to keep the registration fees low for families, so the donation auction helps defray some of the expenses. So, you may want to have a check, Visa or Mastercard along if you decide to donate for an item.

Also, during the trail you may have a chance to buy some treats if we happen to get near a town, so you may want some cash with you. For one person $20.00 maybe more then enough to have along (some in change for pop machines, etc. if/when we get back to the modern world) and a couple of check blanks in a plastic bag (to keep them dry if it rains).

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Q: If we need to cancel our registration, can we get a refund?

A: Each refund is at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on what has already been rented or purchased for your reserved spacing. A minimum office charge at the least, will be charged for cancellation prior to June 1st. After June 1st will not be so good and would heavily depend on the arrangements that were already made for your registration including rentals, purchases and contracted commitments made in behalf of your registration, most of which will be impossible for us to return for credit. However, a partial refund maybe possible. Refund request must be received in writing. Please realize that the board only meets about 6-7 times a year, and may not meet for up to 4-8 weeks once your request is received, so please be patient.

Travel and Accommodations

Q: Where can we find out more about Jamestown, ND, like Motels, Hotels, camp grounds, Taxi Service, site seeing, etc? We'd like to arrive a day early, stay over night and just look around.

A: You can get that information by visiting this web site: http://www.jamestownnd.com/ Motel and Hotel accommodations can be found on this web page on the same website: http://www.jamestownnd.com/promotiontourism/accomodations.htm

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Q: When I arrive at Jamestown, ND, I won't have my own car, is there a taxi service, or will a covered wagon pick me up?

A: Sorry, our covered wagons do not provide taxi service. To get around Jamestown, ND and/or to the Fort Seward Park. We do know of three Taxi Services: Buffalo City Cab 701-252-4444, Jamestown Taxi Service 701-252-4200, and A-1 Taxi 701-253-3545.

It maybe possible that some of the major Motels or Hotels in the city provide shuttle service if you stay with them. Check on the Jamestown, ND web site for available Motels and Hotels in the city. You may want to call some and check room availability and ask if they will shuttle you from airport, or bus terminal, or back and forth from the Fort Seward Park: http://www.jamestownnd.com/promotiontourism/accomodations.htm

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Q: I want to come on the wagon train, but have no idea how to plan the trip there and back. What should I do?

A: Sorry, we can't help much with trip planning, other then during your trip on our covered wagon train. But, you may want to check your local yellow pages, or ask some friends or family members to recommend a Travel Agent to plan your trip to Jamestown, ND and back home again. A Travel Agent can make the necessary arrangements for you. They will of course require a fee to do so, but you should have a well planned trip with arrangements made for you as to flights and/or busing if desired, car rentals, places to stay, places to dine, and approximate costs.

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Q: My Travel Agent is having trouble finding a flight into Jamestown, ND. Is there air service to Jamestown, ND?

A: Yes, visit this webpage on the Jamestown, ND website for current information about flights to the Jamestown Airport: http://www.jamestownnd.com/city/airport.htm

Top Index

The favorite tips are how to keep try and warm if raining.

1. Make sure your tent does not leak before coming on the wagon train. Our brand new one got us pretty wet.
2. The little wire stakes that come with tents do not work well, they pull out very easy when windy. Buy some heavier V-type stakes or the heavy nail type of stakes and bring a hammer.
3. Don't forget duct tape, great for tent fixes.
4. Food is great, do not come on the wagon train and expect to loose weight!
5. I lay a cheap poly tarp that is bigger then the floor of my tent, inside my tent. Sleeping bags and duffle bags lay on top. If hard rain, pull up the corners of the tarp and keep your gear dry. Wet clothes and sleeping bag is not fun on a cool summer night.
6. I bring the extra large size garbage bags. If it looks like rain my duffle bags goes inside them to keep my gear dry.
7. I line my duffle bags with a garbage bag and put my items inside the garbage bag part. The duffle bag keeps my garbage bag from tearing a hole in, and the garbage bags keeps my sleeping bag and clothes dry.
8. Bring a couple pair of gloves, easy to drop and loose a pair.
9. Don't forget to bring a jacket like I did. Some evenings and day times can be cool.
10. They are not kidding, use plenty of chapstick. Being outside most of the day is hard on lips. Use sunscreen too.
11. Do not bring brand new shoes unless you want brand new blisters on your feet. Use something broke in and comfortable.
12. If it looks like rain, I remove the top fly on my tent and lay a poly tarp over the main tent. Then I put the tent fly over the top of the poly tarp and use good tent stakes to fasten the tent fly too. Plastic hook and wire stakes do not hold in windy conditions.
13. We kept dry with this method. I use a poly tarp over the tent if it looks like rain. 2-3 foot pieces of Parachute cord tied to grommets and then tie them to heavier tent stakes helps to keep the tent dry during a summer rain storm.
14. Bring an extra set of batteries and a bulb for your flashlight. Yes, the bulbs burn out, especially if you drop your flashlight!
15. Several have told us they forgot to pack their toothbrushes. So, don't forget your toothbrush.
16. Blowing up an air mattress takes forever, pack along a hand pump for doing that, can find those in the camping sections of department stores.
17. Bring a few small toys and games for the younger children, maybe a magazine for yourself, in case it rains and you need to stay inside your tent for a while.