How the Conestoga Wagon Put America on the Right Side of the Road

Why does the United Kingdom drive on the left while the United States—and most of the world—drive on the right? The answer might run straight through Lancaster County.In this episode, we explore the global divide in road travel through a local lens, beginning with the mighty Conestoga wagon—Lancaster County’s most famous contribution to early American transportation. These massive freight wagons once rolled west from Pennsylvania, and the way their drivers managed their teams helped influence America’s shift to right-hand travel.We’ll trace the story back even further—to ancient Rome and medieval Britain, where riders kept left to free their sword hands—and forward to Napoleon Bonaparte, who reshaped Europe’s traffic customs. Then we return to America, where Henry Ford’s Model T locked in the right-hand system we still use today.From Roman battlefields to Lancaster’s wagon yards, this episode reveals how centuries-old traditions—and one iconic Pennsylvania invention—helped determine which side of the road you drive on.Because sometimes, the story of the world runs straight through Lancaster County. Read more at UnchartedLancaster.com.📖 Learn about Lancaster County's many unique places when you step off the beaten path with Uncharted Lancaster: Field Guide to the Strange, Storied, and Hidden Places of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania by Adam Zurn. This one-of-a-kind 239-page guidebook uncovers 56 fascinating sites, from the county’s very own fountain of youth to the oldest continuously operating short-line railroad in the western hemisphere.Packed with history, local stories, and GPS locations, this book is your ticket to exploring the mysterious corners of Lancaster like never before. Whether you’re a lifelong local, a history buff, or just looking for a unique adventure, this field guide will spark your curiosity and send you exploring. Start your adventure here.