Four major trails all merge together through wyoming heading for south pass on the northern end of the rocky mountains and the continental divide. A pony express rider passes workers building the transcontinental telegraph line. Nov 15, 2018 a pony express rider passes workers building the transcontinental telegraph line. Postal service pony express route in the world, will be making its annual trip to scottsdale on jan. Starting with the foundation of the pony express in the controversy around slavery and the missouri compromise and the role the express played in keeping california in the union as a free state. Presented in a comicbook format, this minibook will engage readers at all levels and encourage them to delve more deeply into the mass movement west and how it shaped the country. The great epoch of the pony express is now over a hundred years old. The physical remains of both services are extant on public lands in western utah and are being preserved, interpreted and continually studied. The site existed prior to the pony express as an indian trading post during the 1850s. This relay system along the pony express national historic trail crossing eight states was the most direct and practical means of eastwest communications in 1860.
The surprisingly short history of the pony express youtube. Basin, 47,000 more were located in the territories of nevada and utah, thus. Samuel clemens had an encounter of less than two minutes with a pony express rider on a trip out west. National pony express monument salt lake city 2020 all. The story of the pony express project gutenberg australia. It was a 1966 mile journey and reduced the time of transmitting news across the country from approximately 21 to 10 days.
The historiography of the pony express can be broken down into the. The pony express in utah arcadia publishing history books. The pony express was the first rapid transit and the first fast mail line across the. Joseph, missouri, a distance of some 1,966 miles, in a blisteringly fast 10 days, using nothing but horses and riders.
Utah played a key role in pony express history, says. Joseph, missouri, and sacramento, california, and from sacramento to san francisco, california, by steamer april 1860october 1861. First a little history about the pony express, taken from wikipedia. The pony express was inaugurated 3 april 1860 with high hopes for eventual government subsidy. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Utahs pony express trail national back country byway. Joseph hatch, the book will dive into the shortlived days of the pony express. Called the greatest enterprise of modern times, the endeavorwhich lasted only nineteenth monthsrecruited young men willing to risk life and limb in a relay race that crossed the frontier on a route from st.
Joseph hatch have written two books about the pony express. Utah history encyclopedia, 1994 the pony express mail service between st. The pony express is one of the most celebrated and enduring chapters in the history of the united states, a story of the allamerican traits of bravery, bravado, and entrepreneurial risk that are part of the every fabric of the old west. The pony express epoch began simultaneously april 3, 1860 with riders starting at st. It tells the story of the pony express with details our seventhgrade history books left out. To begin tracing the hoofprints of the pony visit the camp floyd stagecoach inn state park on state highway 73, 5 miles south of cedar fort. Accordingly, pony express riders are remembered as heroes in an age that rewarded the values of the frontier. The history and legacy of americas most famous mail service, by charles river editors, the audio version. The history and legacy of americas most famous mail service. Young men once rode horses to carry mail from missouri to california in the unprecedented time of only 10 days. Raymond and mary settle made one of the few serious attempts to write a pony express history. Pony express national historic trail salt lake city. The venture was a publicity success but a financial failure, lasting only eighteen months. Bronco charlie and the pony express on my own history by marlene targ brill and craig orback jan 1, 2004 4.
Daughters of utah pioneers 2, salt lake city, utah state historical. Pony express stations of utah in historical perspective. Salt lake city public library newspaper file special collections. The story is largely based on the 1925 silent film the pony express with the threat of a californian secession from frontier pony express 1939. Great arcadia press book of the pony express stations of utah. Pony express national historic trail, salt lake city. With the pony express, letters could arrive in sacramento, california, from st. The image of the intrepid young rider on a fast horse, crossing mountain and desert with his precious cargo of mail, is known and loved around the world as an icon of the western frontier. The pony express route was nearly 2,000 miles 3,200 km long overland, had about 190 stations mostly in nebraska, wyoming, utah, and nevada, and required about 10 days to cover. But as mark twain, he got a whole chapter of roughing it out of the meeting. The demise of the pony express and the overland mail service marked the end of an era in western history. Given that most have still heard of the pony express today, unlike so many other messaging companies long gone, you may think that the pony express was once an integral part of communication. The famous lincoln highway also passed through utah using portions of the old mail route. In utah, under the leadership of major howard egan of the nauvoo legion, the pony express operations ran rather smoothly.
Click this link to view our approved 20182019 boundaries. Aug 29, 2018 despite its enduring place in old west legend, the pony express never turned a profit during its year and a half history. On april 3, 1860, the pony express began its run through parts of missouri, kansas, nebraska, colorado, wyoming, utah, nevada, and california. Each rider generally rode 75 to 100 miles 120 to 160 km and changed horses every 10 to 15 miles 16 to 24 km.
Pony express national historic trail historical markers the. He has another book with more historical narrative, called. This book told about how the pony express linked the west coast and the east coast in. The pony express bible is a protestant bible that was distributed to the pony express riders in. The pony express stations of utah in historical perspective. The pony express was a mail service delivering messages, newspapers, mail, even small packages from st.
The chorpenning mail contracts between california and utah, 18511860, arizona and the west, vol. The real story behind the pony express wells fargo history. Despite operating for less than 19 months, future generations remember the legendary pony express as a daring attempt to rethink how americans communicated. Although a financially disastrous brief enterprise, the pony express and. In 1860, it became a home station for the pony express. History westward expansion the pony express was a mail delivery service that ran between missouri and california. Hashknife pony express keeps history alive with mail delivery when was the first mail delivered via the pony express the hashknife pony express, the longest sanctioned u. Bibliography pony express national historic trail u. The pony express mail system is an important part of history, with much of the original route remaining.
Utah played a key role in pony express history, says west like lightning author. Pony express history is partly fact and largely legend. The pony express stands out in the history of the american west, memorable and captivating for the romance and adventure it evokes. The first pony express mail traveled by horse and rider relay teams. Orphans preferred was the call that went out to the daring of heart when the pony express was organized nearly 150 years ago in april 1860.
The national pony express association incorporated is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the. The story of the pony express national postal museum. The city of the saints across the rocky mountains to california. Pat is the author of the definitive book imho on the pony express in utah. William lightfoot visschers book, however, is a rollicking yarn that helped create the lasting legend of the pony express. Theres geological and film history in the form of the bonneville salt flats and the unique basin and range topography. The pony express in utah uintah county heritage museum. Click here to access information regarding how we assist english language learners ell. National pony express utah division, salt lake city, utah. Saga of the pony express provides a solid overview but does not consider how the story of the pony express came to be.
Along the route visitors can enjoy history and a variety of recreation. I list the top 5 things i learned about the pony express while listening to this book. Utah west desert pony express trail itinerary visit utah. Settles account is unique as he was the first writer and historical researcher to make use of pony express founder william b. Pony express is a 1953 american western film directed by jerry hopper and starring charlton heston as buffalo bill, forrest tucker as wild bill hickok, jan sterling as a calamity janetype character, and rhonda fleming that was filmed in kanab, utah. We visited four different stops on our two week dual sport motorcycle trip in five western states. The site first took the name of deer creek station as a relay terminal for the overland stage system. When the new transcontinental telegraph wire went live in october 1861, the pony express horses stopped running. Salt lake city a prolific writer, jim defelice has authored thrillers to nonfiction to coauthoring with chris kyle and, continue reading.
Carter, utah and the pony express, centennial edition salt lake city. Using the pony express, mail could arrive in california in as few as 9 days rather than the weeks it took to arrive when sent by horse carriage. The utah state historical society ushs in salt lake city does have a few. The pony express is one of the most colorful episodes in american history, one which can be used to measure not only the growth of the nation, but the pioneering spirit of our predecessors. William buffalo bill cody pictured became a pony express rider at age 15, and claimed to have arrived at a relay station to find the relief rider dead, whereupon he mounted a fresh horse, rode to the next station, and made the return ride, covering a distance of around 325. The four trails are, the oregon trail, mormon pioneer trail, california trail, and the pony express trail. Utahs west desert covers history from a handful of angles.
Overland mail to california in the 1850s between 1789, when the federal government of the united states began, and 1860, the united states. Pony express historical timeline pony express museum. It also meant that there was no longer a need for the pony express. Waddells papers, now in a collection at the huntington library in san marino. The lack of speedy communication between the midwest and the west was accentuated by the looming threat of a civil war. Apr 01, 2015 the pony express in utah is the newest addition to arcadia publishings popular images of america series of books. It brings together unique scenery, history and wildlife all along the fascinatingly desolate pony express national historic trail. Joseph, missouri was chosen as the eastern terminus while everyone already knew sacramento would be the western terminus. The pony express route that the riders used went through the territories of utah, nebraska and. The pony express in utah by patrick hearty and joseph hatch 2015, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. The pony express in utah is the newest addition to arcadia publishings popular images of america series of books. Pony express national historic trail historical markers these are markers about the pony express found along the trail that ran from sacramento, california to st. Pony express printable minibooks, lesson plans and ideas. The pony express in utah images of america by patrick hearty and dr.
Please note that not all books listed are still in print, but may be available at your local library. Reminiscences and authentic history of the great overland stage line and pony. The ponies and their riders could not compete with the overland telegraph, which was completed on 6 april 1861. Apr 06, 2015 the pony express stands out in the history of the american west, memorable and captivating for the romance and adventure it evokes. He changed horses at relay stations set 10 to 15 miles apart, swiftly transferring himself and his mochila a saddle. William lightfoot visschers book, however, is a rollicking yarn that helped create the lasting legend of the. The second is the pony express in utah, a general history of the trail from before the advent of the pony express to the commemorative. Joseph, missouri across the great plains, over the rocky mountains and the sierra nevada to sacramento, california by horseback, using a series of relay stations.
Riders of the pony express by ralph moody goodreads. Pony express division three horseshoe creek, wyoming to. April 3, 2010 was the pony express 150th anniversary. Most of the books listed below attempt to be purely factual. Be the first to ask a question about riders of the pony express. Riders of the pony express paperback september 1, 2004. Jun 20, 2018 it tells the story of the pony express with details our seventhgrade history books left out. The stations continued willow creek sixmile utah no. The pony express stations of utah in historical perspective the stations in the following descriptions, the stations are discussed in the order of their occurrence from east to west. Written about 100 years ago, this history of the pony express is a fun and interesting read. Orphans preferred was the call that went out to the daring of heart when the pony express was organized in april 1860.
Pony express history and art gallery 2, san rafael, california bancroft library. The pony express in utah book signing park city museum. The first is the pony express stations in utah, written as a takealong guide book for visiting all the utah stations in utah. The ponies and their riders could not compete with the overland telegraph, which. Online resources electronic books history electronic government information. The pony express stations of utah, also available on amazon. The company began making deliveries in april 1860, but service ground to a. Pony express national historic trail salt lake city 2020. In utah, under the leadership of major howard egan of the nauvoo legion, the. Its purpose is to preserve the original pony express trail and to continue the memory and importance of pony express in american history in partnership with the national park service, pony express trail association, and the oregoncalifornia trails association. The pony express trail national backcountry byway begins near fairfield and ends at ibapah, utah. They also failed to recognize that russell, if not the other owners of the firm, was a con man and. The pony express 18601861, the pony express stations in utah. Three men in the mid1800s had an idea to open up a mail delivery system that reached from the midwest all the way to california.
View all attractions near national pony express monument on tripadvisor. But there was a time when if you needed your message to get there as quickly as possible you enlisted the help of the pony express. Joseph, missouri, and sacramento, california, was a shortlived business venture operated by the firm of russell, majors and waddell. The pony express was a mail service delivering messages, newspapers, and mail using relays of horsemounted riders that operated from april 3, 1860 to october 24, 1861 between missouri and california in the united states of america operated by central overland california and pikes peak express company, the pony express was a great financial investment to the u. Our summer office hours will be on tuesdays from 9. While im not always quite sure of the historical accuracy, and this book certainly is a long way. Called the greatest enterprise of modern times, the endeavor recruited young men willing to risk life and limb in a relay race that crossed the frontier, speeding the delivery of mail to an astonishing ten days. Coauthored by pony express historians, patrick hearty and dr. National historic trail ca, co, ks, mo, ne, nv, ut, wy.
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