What Is The Pony Express Route?

Pony Express, byname of Central Overland California & Pike’s Peak Express Company, system of U.S. mail delivery by continuous horse-and-rider relays between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, and from Sacramento to San Francisco, California, by steamer (April 1860–October 1861).

How long is the Pony Express route?

More than 1,800 miles in 10 days! From St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California the Pony Express could deliver a letter faster than ever before. In operation for only 18 months between April 1860 and October 1861, the Pony Express nevertheless has become synonymous with the Old West.

What was the pony express and how did it work?

The Pony Express used a planned out route with a number of stations along the way. Riders would carry the mail from station to station, switching to fresh horses at each station. Every hundred or so miles the rider would be replaced. This allowed the mail to be constantly moving at a good speed.

What was the Pony Express and why was it important?

In its day, the Pony Express was like the Twitter or Facebook of the mid-1800s: a means of communication that could move information across the North American continent faster than ever before, though it was powered by horses.

How many stations were in the Pony Express?

190 Stations
The Pony Express Used Over 190 Stations
Pony stations were generally located between 5 to 20 miles apart. The terrain and its effect on horse travel determined the number and the distance between stations. Stations that already existed for the stagecoach line were also used for “The Pony”.

Where does the Pony Express trail start and end?

Pony Express route
Beginning at St. Joseph, Missouri, the approximately 1,900-mile-long (3,100 km) route roughly followed the Oregon and California Trails to Fort Bridger in Wyoming, and then the Mormon Trail (known as the Hastings Cutoff) to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Can you drive the entire Pony Express Trail?

Understand that the Pony Express trail is not 100% accessible. But enough is for you to explore and really enjoy the ride. An occasional placard fills in some of the details that aren’t readily apparent. I suggest driving during a dry spell.

Why did they stop using pit ponies?

The Coal Act of that year forbade the use of women. The welfare of pit ponies, like that of women and children before them, was left to chance until 1887. Since then no other working horse had been protected by such detailed legislation.

Were there any female Pony Express riders?

There were no known female Pony Express riders. However, some of the ‘stations’ at which the Pony Express riders stopped to change horses or to hand-off the mail to a new rider were owned by or run by women.

How far did the Pony Express run a horse?

The Pony Express was set up to provide a fresh horse every 10-15 miles and a fresh rider every 75-100 miles. 75 horses were needed total to make a one-way trip. Average speed was 10 miles per hour.

Did Pony Express riders carry guns?

Ten days later, at 1:00 a.m. on April 14, the package was finally delivered by another rider to its destination in San Francisco, California. In addition to the mailbag, the Pony Express riders carried two things: a Bible, and a gun.

How much did Pony Express riders make a month?

A Pony Express rider made $100 a month, which was good money at the time. Their job was tough though. It required them to ride in bad weather, on rough terrain, and through dangerous situations. To keep the weight down that horses were forced to carry, riders had to weigh under 125 pounds.

How long did the Pony Express last for?

From Missouri to California the Pony Express riders could deliver a letter faster than ever before. The Pony Express was in operation for only 18 months between April 1860 and October 1861.

How far apart were Pony Express stops?

There were no systematic predetermined distances between stations. In his memoirs, Alexander Majors stated that home stations were located approximately sixty-five to one hundred miles apart.

Are there any Pony Express stations left?

Hollenberg Pony Express Station, Hanover, Kansas
Many of the Pony Express stations no longer exist—or if they do, they’re in ruins. The Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Hanover, Kansas, however, is one of the last standing.

How far did the Pony Express riders have to ride?

75 to 100 miles
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. Each rider generally rode 75 to 100 miles (120 to 160 km) and changed horses every 10 to 15 miles (16 to 24 km).

Where does the Pony Express trail go?

The Pony Express National Historic Trail goes through BLM managed lands in California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. The Pony Express National Historic Trail is the route where young men on horseback once carried the nation’s mail across the country between 1860 and 1861.

Was there a weight limit for Pony Express riders?

There was a weight limit for Pony Express riders.
Rather than burly cowboys, most of the riders were small, wiry men who weighed between 100 and 125 pounds—roughly the same size as a modern horseracing jockey.

Which was the fastest trip of Pony Express?

The fastest delivery time recorded for the Pony Express was seven days and seventeen hours, conveying Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address. Russell, Majors, and Waddell lost $30 on every letter they carried.

How fast does the pony express ride go?

38 MPH
Named after the famous Pony Express mail service, this roller coaster rides at speeds never imagined in the Old West! Passengers saddle up onto their “horses” and sit astride on this unique coaster. Riders are launched out of the station while reaching a top speed of 38 MPH in less than three seconds.

Is the Pony Express trail paved?

Pony Express West Segment Overview
Typical Terrain: Wide gravel and dirt roads, rugged and rocky jeep tracks especially through mountain passes, and pavement. Conditions through Nevada may vary dramatically from one season to the next. The entire section from Lake Tahoe to Oakland is on pavement.