Henry John Heinz founded the H. J. Heinz Company in January 1869 in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, selling bottled horseradish, pickles and, of course, tomato ketchup. Heinz made the most of every marketing opportunity. The company became known for their elegant delivery wagons in the early 1900s. This wheel is on the Heinz Hitch, which operated from 1986 to 2006. It traveled hundreds of thousands of miles and delighting crowds at parades, country fairs, and festivals across North America. The late 19th century wagon, built in South Bend, Indiana, by Studebaker, was discovered in a storage shed in central Pennsylvania in 1978. It weighs 6,800 pounds and was pulled by eight one-ton Percheron horses, the breed favored by H.J. Heinz to pull the original delivery wagons.

Heinz History Center
Pittsburgh, PA

07.20.26