Many of us are not familiar with The Pony Express and most of us have little knowledge about it. I fall into the latter category. Today, the Pony Express is being recognized for its historical significance. In the beginning of this nation to get mail from east coast to the west coast was very difficult. There was no national mail service that could deliver mail from one side to other side in reasonable time compared today. There were no phones, no internet, no particularly good means of communicating in a truly short time. Imagine your sibling, parent, and/or relative on the east coast needing to let a family member get home at once.
The Pony Express was made up of horse mounted riders who traveled from Saint Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California to deliver mail within ten days. The company’s founders were William Russell, Alexander Majors, and William Waddell, who operated the service under the names of Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company.
Although it operated for 18 months, it has left an indelible mark on the American history. Its service began on April 3, 1860, to October 1861. During that period of time, there were 186 Pony Express stations which were 10 to 15 miles apart where the riders would swap horses and continue their trip across the country. During this time period, they delivered 35,000 letters approximately to their final destination.
These riders endured weather challenges such snow, rain, desert heat and much more in which they rode through the night to meet their goal of ten day delivery. They had to be alert for the perils around them whether that be theft and/or violence via the outlaws, unrest with the Native Americans, and competing delivery services. Due to the hard rides, they got little rest and grabbed a quick bite whenever they could. Sometimes, they died in order to get the mail delivered due to sickness, injury or other challenges.
Today, our modern conveniences have made it easier for us to receive mail, texts, and have conversations over the phone. However, it is important to remember that the riders of The Pony Express endured a lot to deliver mail to people, whether they knew them or not. If you are interested in learning more about The Pony Express, I recommend visiting the museum in St. Joseph, MO.
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