The Pony Express has long fascinated Americans ever since its first riders delivered the first letters in 1860. It operated from April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861, and ran between Missouri and California. It proved vital in tying the new American state of California with the rest of the nation.
While old Wild West ghost towns like Bodie may be easy to visit, there is a Historic Trail operated by the National Park Service to preserve the memory and historic sites of the Pony Express - and there's an annual Pony Express Re-Ride.
History and Background of The Pony Express
The background for the Pony Express was the 1840s Gold Rush, Mormon Exodus, and the move West by thousands on the Oregon Trail. California was annexed by the United States in 1848 as a fully-fledged state (and not a territory like most).
The need for a fast mail service beyond the Rocky Mountains became apparent. This need was partly filled by outfits like the Butterfield Overland Mail Service starting in 1857.
Timeline:
- The 1840s: Start of Thousands Moving West On The Oregon Trail
- 1847: Mormon Exodus To Utah
- 1848: Conquest of California (Statehood in 1850)
- 1849: The Gold Rush
The catalyst came in 1858 when postmaster general Joseph Holt scaled back overland mail service to California.
It was operated by Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company. In its first 18 months of operation, it proved itself to be of great financial importance. The system reduced the travel time for messages between the two coasts by around 10 days and was the country's most direct means of east-west communication.
- Route: From Missouri to California
- Fate: Went Bankrupt After 18 Month
- Distance: 1,966 Miles
- Time Savings: About 10 Days
- Delivery Times: About 10 Days
It was able to travel the 1,966 miles between Missouri and California in 10 days or even less. The Pony Express used over 190 stations which were normally located between 5 to 20 miles apart with the type of terrain and its effect on the horse determining the distance.
Bankruptcy and Legacy of The Pony Express
But as quickly as it came about, it was also made obsolete. Just 18 months after the pony express was set up the transcontinental telegraph was established on October 24, 1861.
- Date Of Operation: From April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861
- System: A System of Relays For Horse-Mounted Riders
- Obsolete: It Was Make Obsolete After 18 By The Telegraph
- Delivered: Messages, Newspapers, and Mail
Perhaps as a surprise to many, the Pony Express was not actually a financial success - even though it had a heavy subsidy. It went bankrupt just 18 months after it began operations in the wake of the much faster telegraph service. After its end, it soon became romanticized and became a part of the lore of the American West.
The endurance and effort of the individual young and hardy riders with their fast horses came to be seen as evidence of the rugged American individualism of the Wild West frontier period.
Today it has become synonymous with the Old West. In an era of expansion and settlement before electronic communication, it was the thread binding the Eastern and Western halves of the United States together.
Preservation In The Historic Trail
Today its legacy is preserved by the National Park Service in the National Historic Trail. There is also the National Pony Express Association (NPEA) that also strives to keep the spirit and memory of the Pony Express alive. NPEA was established in 1978 and today works to:
"identify, preserve, and mark the original Pony Express route through the eight states it crossed: Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California."
- 1992: The Pony Express Trail Was Added To The National Trails System As a Historic Trail
The Pony Express Re-Ride
Every year NPEA organizes a Pony Express Re-Ride - and volunteer riders are wanted. As of the time of writing (Feburary, 2022) they are taking applications for the 2022 re-ride.
The rider requirements are for riders to be fourteen years of age or over, have a suitable horse together with the needed apparel and equipment. Minors aged 14 to 17 must have parent or guardian's consent.
All riders need to sign waiver/release of liability forms for each state they ride in and they much provide their own mount and tack.
- Needed Western Attire: Blue jeans, long sleeve red western shirt, chocolate brown vest, yellow scarf, boots, and western hat.
Also, every rider must take the following oath to keep the tradition of Pony Express rider's oaths alive.
“I,___________, do hereby swear, before the great and living God, that during my engagement as a member of the National Pony Express Association Re-Ride, I will under no circumstances use profane language, that I will drink no intoxicating liquors, that I will not quarrel or fight with any other member of the Association, and that in every respect, I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my associates. So help me God.”
But if a horse ride across the old West seems a bit too much, take an old-timey train trip in Utah instead.