Marker Title (required): The Pony Express — April 1860 to October 1861
Marker Text (required):
Competing with time, distance, harsh climate, and hostile Indians, the Pony Express carried important communications from the East and the West across 2,000 miles in only 10 days.
The “Pony,” as it was called, is an outstanding example of American courage, endurance, and determination in the westward expansion of the Nation.
Speeding mail and news across the country, the Pony was then a vital life line of the nation. It is credited with playing an important part in preserving our nation by keeping California in the Union at the outbreak of the Civil War.
Completion of the Transcontinental Telegraph Line in October 1861, put an end to the Pony Express. The “talking wire” met the need for urgent communications and the Overland Stage served for general letters.
Despite its high prices (up to $5 an ounce at its peak), the Pony Express was a losing enterprise from its beginning. Receipts were often high, but expenses were enormous. In spite of its contributions to the Union and the westward expansion, the Pony never received any financial assistance from the Government.
Yet its founders, W.H. Russell, Alexander Majors, and William B. Waddell, felt the need was important, and the Pony Express operated in the red until it went out of business on October 28, 1861, four days after the first coast to coast telegraph message.
Pony Express relay stations were from 10 to 35 miles apart along the route and each had two to four men and extra horses. About 500 of the hardiest western horses were bought at prices up to $200 each. There were about 80 riders in all, and they were recruited from the most daring, determined, and toughest “wiry young fellows” in the West. Lightly equipped and armed weigh Nave Colt revolver, each man rode at least 35 miles in each direction, changing horses at three relay stations along the way.
Over his saddle the rider carried the mochila, a leather cover with four mail pouches of letters. He wasted no time at the relay stations, stopping only or water and to transfer the precious mochila onto a waiting horse. Day and night, good weather and bad, winter and summer, the Pony riders covered 10 to 15 miles an hour on their routes. Surprisingly, over the 18 months the Pony operated, only one mail pouch was lost and service was held up for only one month during the Indian wars.
Historic sites like these along the Pony Express Route have been interpreted for your enjoyment as part of the Nation’s bicentennial observance of the American Revolution. To aid you in following the Pony Express Route, concrete and wooden posts mark the actual trail.
Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.
County (required): Churchill
Marker Type (required): Other (describe below)
Other Marker Type (optional): Fiberglass sign
Is Marker Damaged? (required): No
Other Damage Type (optional): NA
URL - Website (optional): [Web Link]
Marker Number (If official State Marker from NV SHPO website above, otherwise leave blank): Not Listed
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