Last fall with a supporting grant from South Dakota Humanities, and in partnership with the non-profit Oregon-California Trails Association, Los Angeles based production company and creative agency, Knowledge Tree Films, came to Mitchell to film a custom-made documentary episode about Doug and crew here at Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop. 

This tight-knit team has years of experience working on movies, television shows, and commercials. Knowledge Tree Films specializes in American historical, cultural, and travel pieces, so profiling Doug and Company was a natural fit. 

Each day we have an opportunity to preserve and recreate history through the restoration and replication of wheeled vehicles, many of which shaped our great state and country. The crew did a great job of capturing and depicting our work and what we do as a business in our efforts to help reserve history. 

There were many hands working to not only make this film but to also produce a wonderful premiere for it as well. The  Carnegie Resource Center in Mitchell hosted the reception. They also share the common goal of working toward preserving history and genealogy of the Mitchell area to share with the world.

The  Mitchell Chamber & Development Corporation helped by providing wonderful appetizers at the reception for all to enjoy. They were delicious thank you! 

Jeff Logan with  Logan Luxury 5 Cinema provided his theatre for the viewing, he was the MC for the event and his staff worked hard to offer wonderful services through their concessions and the ushers even wore vintage movie usher uniforms!

Mitchell mayor  Bob Everson was there to present a proclamation declaring March 30, 2022 as Hansen Wagon Wheel Day in the city of Mitchell as part of the premiere of "Wagon Master: Hansen's Hand Crafted History"! How cool is that? What an honor!

There was a lot of great feedback on how well the film was put together and choice of music. So many locals didn't even realize the extent of work that we do here right in the shop to preserve the integrity and authenticity of the historical vehicles we work on. 

We are so very grateful to everyone that came together to make this all happen as well as the great work put into continuing the education and awareness of these historical vehicles. 

If you weren't able to make it to the event the Wagon Master film will be showing on SDPB-TV Thursday April 21st at 8pm and Sunday April 24th at 1pm. They are working on creating more ways to watch and we will keep you all posted on that as soon as we know more!

For those that may have missed it you can view the Wagon Master Teaser Trailer below. You can also support their efforts by purchasing the entire video  here as well. 

Wagon Master: Hansen's Hand-Crafted History from Travis Boley on Vimeo.

Other articles and resources:  Pathways Article

You can also watch the entire video for free right now below as well: