The series initially starred veteran movie supporting actor Ward Bond as the wagon master, later replaced upon his death by John McIntire, and Robert Horton as the scout, subsequently replaced by lookalike Robert Fuller a year after Horton had decided to leave the series. The series was inspired by the 1950 film Wagon Master directed by John Ford and starring Ben Johnson, Harry Carey Jr. and Ward Bond, and harkens back to the early widescreen wagon train epic The Big Trail starring John Wayne and featuring Bond in his first major screen appearance playing a supporting role. Horton's buckskin outfit as the scout in the first season of the television series resembles Wayne's, who also played the wagon train's scout in the earlier film.
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 6
Season 7
Season 8
The Bob Stuart Story The Hide Hunters The John Gillman Story The Race Town Story The Barbara Lindquist Story The Brian Conlin Story The Alice Whitetree Story Those Who Stay Behind The Nancy Styles Story The Richard Bloodgood Story The Clay Shelby Story Little Girl Lost The Hector Heatherton Story The Echo Pass Story The Chottsie Gubenheimer Story The Wanda Snow Story The Isaiah Quickfox Story Herman The Bonnie Brooke Story The Miss Mary Lee McIntosh Story The Captain Sam Story The Betsy Blee Smith Story The Katy Piper Story The Indian Girl Story The Silver Lady The Jarbo Pierce Story
The Bob Stuart Story The Hide Hunters The John Gillman Story The Race Town Story The Barbara Lindquist Story The Brian Conlin Story The Alice Whitetree Story Those Who Stay Behind The Nancy Styles Story The Richard Bloodgood Story The Clay Shelby Story Little Girl Lost The Hector Heatherton Story The Echo Pass Story The Chottsie Gubenheimer Story The Wanda Snow Story The Isaiah Quickfox Story Herman The Bonnie Brooke Story The Miss Mary Lee McIntosh Story The Captain Sam Story The Betsy Blee Smith Story The Katy Piper Story The Indian Girl Story The Silver Lady The Jarbo Pierce Story