Pony Express Photos

The Pony Express ran 1,966 miles from St Joseph, MO to Sacramento, CA & used relays of riders who handed off a locked mail saddle cover (Mochila) to the next waiting rider & pony at way stations spaced about 12 miles apart so that the mail never stopped moving, taking less than 10 days to cross. In the 18 months that the Pony Express existed (April 3, 1860 to Oct. 24, 1861), its 121 riders & 500 ponies carried 35,000 pieces of mail while losing just one pouch. The service was the inspiration of founders Russell, Majors & Waddell. After 18 months, the telegraph rendered the service obsolete, but the service inspired the building of the Transcontinental Railroad & became an American legend.

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Pony Express monument (1976) by Thomas Holland in Old Sacramento. Sacramento, CA	Pony Express monument portrays record setting rider Sam Hamilton in Old Sacramento. Sacramento, CA	Pony Express monument against the Victorian buildings of Old Sacramento. Sacramento, CA	Pony Express monument gallops toward the B.F. Hastings Building, once Pony Express HQ (1006 2nd St.) in Old Sacramento. Sacramento, CA. On National Register.

B.F. Hastings Building (1852)( 1000 2nd St.), former tenants included the Pony Express Terminus, the Alta California Telegraph, Wells Fargo, Sacramento Valley Railroad, & the California Supreme Court. Today it hosts part of the Wells Fargo Museum in Old Sacramento. Sacramento, CA	Pony Express Saddle (c1860) with pouches for mail at Gold Rush History Center. Sacramento, CA	Engraving of Pony Express rider at Warp Pioneer Village. Minden, NE	Pony Express Relay Station building (1860) at Warp Pioneer Village. Minden, NE

Replica Pony Express mochila & saddle (1860) at Warp Pioneer Village. Minden, NE	Metal sign for Pony Express overland mail service costing 25 cents / half ounce by Wells Fargo (printer: Thomas Bell) at Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Cody, WY	Pony express sign at Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Cody, WY	Pony Express Mochila saddle reproduction (1897) by Louis Hook of Salt Lake with locks as might be used in Wild West Show at Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Cody, WY

Plaque celebrating Pony Express Centennial (1960) showing Russell, Majors & Waddell at Scout's Rest. North Platte, NE	Pony Express monument on site of Pony Express Station (1860-61) now Salt Lake Tribune building site on S. Main Street. Salt Lake City, UT	Pony Express rider bronze plaque by A. Phimister Proctor on S. Main Street where Pony Express Station once stood. Salt Lake City, UT	Pony Express stained glass window at Union Pacific Railroad depot. Salt Lake City, UT