Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
HITCHING POST
HITCHING POST. The hitching post was used to secure or “park” the saddle horse, horse and buggy or horse and wagon while the rider visited his neighbor, shopped or rested from his ride. When he left his horse, he tied the reins which were attached to the horse’s bridle to the post with a hitch.
A hitch is a quick, easy knot used to tie a rope to a post. The clove hitch is the said to be easiest and quickest to tie, so it probably was used extensively by riders. However, the rolling or magnus hitch was probably used by the person who drove a buggy or wagon. This hitch was similar to the clove hitch but was less likely to slip. The whole idea was to prevent the horse from wandering away.
For many years, the last known hitching post in Dubuque was found in the parking between the street and the sidewalk in front of the RYAN HOUSE.
