Sail-Wagon Epoch
During the Sail-Wagon Epoch (1790-1830) the population of the Eastern Seaboard ports and along a few Atlantic oriented inland waterways boomed. However, Minnesota and the Brainerd Lakes region were sparsely populated during this time, due to their situation vis-a-vis the global transportation networks. The Ojibwa and Dakota American Indian nations comprised the majority of the population, although the Dakota had largely been driven south and west by the Ojibwas. Whites and Metis (Mixed of French and Native decent), who traded with the Indians for fur, were the first Europeans to move into the area. Settlements of Indians, Metis, and Whites were established close to important fur posts and missions. The most important of these, certainly in the Brainerd area was Crow Wing.
The main forms of transportation in the region were the canoe and the oxcart."Canoes were developed by North American Indians and were later adopted by whites for trade, exploration, and travel. Larger canoes were run with specialized crews; in some cases, on big water. Canoe sails, some as simple as holding up a blanket or mat, were also used (MNHS)."
Because many of the trade routes in the area were shallow rivers and streams, the Ojibiwa created a special kind of Canoe with a flat bottom, known as the Fond du lac style. Not only did they use it to get from one point to the other, but it was also a very important tool in harvesting fish and rice, important staples for the Ojibiwa. The oxcart, on the other hand, become significant with a portion of the Red River Trail passing through the region on its way from Saint Paul to Pembina (on the Red River). The Red River Trail was established by Canadian-Scottish traders, who preferred to sell their furs to an agent of the American Fur Company in Saint Paul, rather than pay the lower price for furs paid by the Hudson Bay Company in Canada. Finally, the Schooner, which had become the boat of choice in Lake Superior around 1800, brought many of the fur traders and other settlers to the region.
