GIDDY UP!

After leaving the Buffalo Bill Trading Post, we headed a short drive to Gothenburg, NE. There we visited one of the last remaining Pony Express Stations that have been preserved. It has been turned into a museum.

The history of the Pony Express is fascinating. I just can't imagine being a Pony Express rider and risking my life like they did.

The Pony Express was founded by William H. Russell, William B. Waddell and Alexander Majors. Faster communication with the West was needed because of the Civil War. The route was somewhere between 1,800 to 2,000 miles long. The trail was from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, CA. Traveling across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. Service started on April 3, 1860 and lasted until October 24, 1861.

The Pony Express ad read, "Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over 18, not over 125 lbs. Must be expert rider, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred".

The route was hazardous and although there are a few different accounts, only three riders was killed. One by Indians, another by drowning while crossing a river, and the other by a fall from his horse at night. They assume another rider died on the trail because his horse showed up at one of the stations riderless. His body was never recovered. One station called the Williams Station had five employees killed by Paiute Indians and they also burned that station to the ground.

There were around 150 stations, 400 horses and 120 riders. Because of their swiftness and endurance, Thoroughbreds were used. Mustangs were used in the rugged part of the country because of their endurance and sure-footedness. Each relay station was about 10 to 15 miles apart. Each rider was issued a bible and carried a horn. As the riders saw the station in the distance, they would blow their horn 3 times. This would signal the station attendant to get the fresh horse saddled and ready. The rider jumped off the finished horse and leaped onto the fresh horse and galloped off. Time was of the essence. It took 10 days for the mail to reach Sacramento CA. from St. Joseph, MO. They would change riders every 90 to 120 miles at the home station were they would rest.

Here are just some of the highlights of the sworn oath the riders took when the they were hired. They would under no circumstances, use profane language, would not drink intoxicating liquors, would not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm and would conduct themselves honestly, be faithful to his duties, so help him God.


The Pony Express grossed $90,000 and lost $200,000. The Telegraph did the Pony Express in. It was sold along with the remnants of the Butterfield Stage to Wells Fargo for $1.5 Million.

The Pony Express became another frontier memory.

Don't know what is going on, but I did crop this picture so the "open" sign was showing. My teacher Janna is out of town, so I will have to wait til she gets back to her ranch.