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Pony Express
What was the Pony Express Overview
The Pony Express was an American express mail service that used relays of horse-mounted riders. It was operated by Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company.
During its 18 months of operation, the Pony Express reduced the time for messages to travel between the east and west US coast to about 10 days. It became the west’s most direct means of east-west communication before the first transcontinental telegraph was established (October 24, 1861), and was vital for tying the new U.S. state of California with the rest of the United States.
How Long Did the Pony Express Last
It operated from April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861, between Missouri and California.

When Was the First Mail Delivered via the Pony Express
The first westbound Pony Express trip left St. Joseph on April 3, 1860, and arrived 10 days later in Sacramento, California, on April 14.
These letters were sent under cover from the east to St. Joseph, and never directly entered the U.S. mail system.
Today, only a single letter is known to exist from the inaugural westbound trip from St. Joseph to Sacramento. It was delivered in an envelope embossed with postage that was first issued by the U.S. Post Office in 1855.
Who was the Most Famous Pony Express Rider?
In May 1860, Robert “Pony Bob” Haslam took off on the most legendary ride in Pony Express history. The 20-year-old was scheduled to make his usual 75-mile run from Friday’s Station east to Buckland Station in Nevada.
He came to the United States as a teenager and was hired by Bolivar Roberts, helped build the stations, and was assigned the run from Friday’s Station (State Line) to Buckland Station near Fort Churchill, 75 miles to the east. Perhaps his greatest ride, 120 miles in 8 hours and 20 minutes while wounded, was an important contribution to the fastest trip ever made by the Pony Express. The message carried was Abraham Lincoln’s Inaugural Address.
Other Famous Pony Express Riders
- Buffalo Bill
- Charles Peck Thompson
- Richard Clarke (frontiersman)
- Johnny Fry
- George Monroe
- Robert Haslam (Pony Express)
- Jack Keetley
- Bronco Charlie Miller
- Joaquin Miller
- Billy Richardson (Pony Express rider)
- Joseph Alfred Slade
- Alexander Toponce
- William Sloan Tough
- Elijah Nicholas Wilson
How Many Pony Express Stations Were There
The Pony Express route consisted of almost 200 stations that covered 2,000 miles throughout eight states, which were mostly in Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.
Each rider generally rode 75 to 100 miles and changed horses every 10 to 15 miles with the entire route taking about 10 days to cover.
Below are the states on the Pony Express route, the number of stations, and how many miles within each state.
STATE | # STATIONS | # MILES |
---|---|---|
California | 24 | 87 |
Colorado | 2 | 27 |
Kansas | 13 | 151 |
Missouri | 3 | 2 |
Nebraska | 38 | 565 |
Nevada | 47 | 417 |
Utah | 27 | 263 |
Wyoming | 43 | 489 |
TOTAL | 197 | 2001 |
Are There Any Pony Express Stations Left
Most of the original Pony Express stations no longer exist or are in ruins.
One of the last standing Pony Express Stations that is in decent shape is the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Hanover, Kansas, however, is one of the last standings.

What Replaced the Pony Express?
Nineteen months after launching the Pony Express, it was replaced by the Pacific Telegraph line. The Pony Express was no longer needed. While it existed, the Pony Express provided a needed service but it was never quite the financial success it was hoped to be.
Where Did the Pony Express Begin and End?
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. Nevertheless, the Pony Express has become synonymous with the Old West.
How Far Did the Pony Express Riders go in One Day?
Riders would travel 75 to 100 miles a day, switching horses every 10 to 12 miles. The fastest delivery in the history of the Pony Express was seven days and seventeen hours.
How Close Together Were Pony Express 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”.
Pony Express Routes
This route roughly follows today’s US 50 across Nevada and Utah.
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. From there, it followed the Central Nevada Route to Carson City, Nevada Territory, before passing over the Sierra and reaching to Sacramento, California. From there mail was transferred to boats to go downriver to San Francisco. On a few instances when the steamer was missed, riders took the mail by horseback to Oakland, California.
Pony Express Stations
Below are the Pony Express Stations located in the Southwest states of California, Nevada, and Utah.

Pony Express Stations in California
California’s gold was very important to the Union, so communication with the state was critical to keep it from seceding, along with the southern states. The Pony Express helped to keep California in the Union by delivering President Lincoln’s March 4, 1861, inaugural address in 7 days, and 17 hours.
LEGEND:
- (H) = Home Station (some of these changed over time, as needed)
- Bold = Station Name on the original U.S. Senate Executive Document, 46th Congress, 3rd Session, I, No. 21 p.7-8 “Contract with Overland Mail Co” “Route 10773”
- Italics = Station Name listed on the 2010 Map prepared by the National Pony Express Association and produced and printed by the National Parks Service to celebrate the Pony Express Sesquicentennial.
List of Pony Express Stations in California:
- 167 – Woodford’s (used only during April 1860)
- 168 – Fountain Place
- 169 – Yank’s / Myers / Meyers
- 170 – Strawberry / Strawberry Valley House (FYI: It is reported that Mr. Berry, the station operator, fed the stock straw—but charged for hay!—or, maybe there were, indeed strawberries to be found growing in the area.)
- 171 –Webster’s / Sugarloaf House / Silverfork
- 172 – Moss / Moore’s / Riverton / Mess
- 173 – (H) Sportsman’s Hall / Twelve Mile
- 174 – Placerville / Hangtown / Old Dry Diggins / Ravine City (FYI: During the first several months, a “southern” route, using stations 13-15, was followed to Five Mile House; later, a “northern” route that used stations 16-18 was used.) On July 1, 1861, Placerville became the Western Terminus.
- 175 – El Dorado / Mud Springs / Nevada House
- 176 – Mormon / Mormon Tavern / Sunrise House
- 177 – Fifteen Mile House
- 178 – Five Mile / Five Mile House / Mills
- 179 – Durco / Duroc House
- 180 – Pleasant Grove / Pleasant Grove House / Shingle Springs
- 181 – Folsom (On July 1, 1860, Folsom became the Western Terminus)
- 182 – (H) Old Sacramento: B.F. Hastings Building – “Western Terminus”
- 183 – Benicia, Martinez, and Oakland Stations (Water Route: Sacramento to San Francisco via the American River on a steamboat or, if they missed the boat, overland from Sacramento)
- 184 – San Francisco Station (Water Route: Sacramento to San Francisco via the American River on a steamboat or, if they missed the boat, overland from Sacramento)
- Diamond Springs
- Pacific House
- Split Rock
- Hope Valley / Sorenson’s
- Phillips

Pony Express Stations in Nevada
About 80% of the Pony Express Trail in what is now Nevada is on national resource lands—available to the public. These Pony Express miles were unforgiving and difficult for riders and station keepers, alike.
LEGEND:
- (H) = Home Station (some of these changed over time, as needed)
- Bold = Station Name on the original U.S. Senate Executive Document, 46th Congress, 3rd Session, I, No. 21 p.7-8 “Contract with Overland Mail Co” “Route 10773”
- Italics = Station Name listed on the 2010 Map prepared by the National Pony Express Association and produced and printed by the National Parks Service to celebrate the Pony Express Sesquicentennial.
- * Needs further research if confirm if a station
List of Pony Express Stations in Nevada:
- 124 – Eight Mile House / Prairie Gate / Pleasant Valley
- 125 – Antelope Springs [White Pine County, Nevada]
- 126 – Spring Valley / Stone House (winter)
- 127 – Shell Creek (H) / Schell Creek / Fort Schellbourne
- 128 – Egan Canon / Egan Canyon / Egan / Egan’s
- 129 – Bates’ / Butte / Butte Creek / Robber’s Roost / Butte Station *
- 130 – Mountain Springs
- 131 – Ruby Valley (the actual station is now located in the Elko Museum)
- 132 – Jacob’s Wells / Jacob’s Well
- 133 – Diamond Springs
- 134 – Sulphur Springs [Eureka County]
- 135 – Robert’s Creek (H)
- 136 – Camp Station / Grubb’s Well (used from about June 1861 to the Pony’s end) / Grubb’s Well *
- 137 – Dry Creek (H)
- 138 – Simpson’s Park / Simpson Park
- 139 – Reese / Reese River / Jacobsville / Jacob’s Spring /Jacobsville Station *
- 140 – Dry Wells / Mount Airy (this station was used during the later months only)
- 141 – Smith’s Creek (H)
- 142 – Castle Rock (this station’s existence is questioned)
- 143 – Edward’s Creek
- 144 – Cold Springs (H) / Telegraph / East Gate / Eastgate
- 145 – Middle Gate / Middlegate / Middle Creek (During the last 7 months of the Pony, the route followed a more direct, “northern” route from Middlegate to Miller’s stations 34-41; the earlier-used, “southern” route included stations 25-33.)
- 146 – West Gate / Westgate
- 147 – Sand Springs / Mountain Well
- 148 – Sand Hill
- 149 – Carson Sink / Sink of Carson
- 150 – Honey Lake / William’s / Smith’s
- 151 – Desert / Hooten Wells / Hooten Well Station *
- 152 – Buckland’s (H) (used at first, until Indian Wars started) [Lyon County, Nevada]
- 153 – Fort Churchill (H) (used after Indian Wars started) [Lyon County, Nevada]
- 154 – Fairview
- 155 – Mountain Wells / Mountain Well
- 156 – Stillwater / Salt Well
- 157 – Old River
- 158 – Bisby’s / Busby’s
- 159 – Nevada / Nevada / Nevada City / Dayton / Chinatown / Spafford’s Hall
- 160 – Ragtown
- 161 – Desert Wells / Desert Well
- 162 – Miller’s / Reed’s
- 163 – Dayton *
- 164 – Carson City (H) / Carson
- 165 – Genoa / Old Mormon [Douglas County, Nevada]
- 166 – Friday’s (H) / Lakeside
- Alpine Ranch Station *
- Cape Horn
- Clugage’s (mention of this station was only found on the government contract)
- Deep Creek Station *
- Rock Spring (summer)
- Van Sickle’s

Pony Express Stations in Utah
LEGEND:
- (H) = Home Station (some of these changed over time, as needed)
- Bold = Station Name on the original U.S. Senate Executive Document, 46th Congress, 3rd Session, I, No. 21 p.7-8 “Contract with Overland Mail Co” “Route 10773”
- Italics = Station Name listed on the 2010 Map prepared by the National Pony Express Association and produced and printed by the National Parks Service to celebrate the Pony Express Sesquicentennial.
List of Pony Express Stations in Utah:
- 96 – Needle Rock / The Needles
- 97 – (H) Head of Echo Canyon / Echo Canyon / Echo / Castle Rock / Frenchies
- 98 – Half Way / Halfway / Emory / Daniels (FYI: Mr. Daniels, the station keeper, maybe was the source of the story (maybe true?) of the XP brand on the horses. Local thieves kept stealing his station horses and then selling them back to the Pony Express! So, he decided to brand them “XP” so that they could be identified.)
- 99 – Weber / Bromley’s / Pulpit Rock / Hanging Rock / Echo
- 100 – Brimville Emergency Station / Henneforville / Henefer
- 101 – East Canyon / East Canyon / Dixie Hollow / Dixie Creek / Big Mountain / Snyder’s Mill
- 102 – Carson House / Dutchman’s Flat
- 103 – Wheaton Springs / Winston Springs / Bauchmann’s
- 104 – Mountain Dale / Mountain Dell / Hanks / Big Canyon Creek
- 105 – (H) Salt Lake / Salt Lake House
- 106 – Trader’s Rest / Traveler’s Rest
- 107 – Rockwell / Rockwell’s
- 108 – Dug Out / Dugout / Joe’s Dugout / Seven Mile / Joe Butcher’s
- 109 – Camp Floyd – John Carson’s Inn / Fort Crittenden / Fairfield / Cedar City
- 110 – East Rush Valley / Pass / East Faust / Five Mile
- 111 – (H) Bush Valley / Rush Valley / Meadow Creek / Faust / Meady Creek
- 112 – Point Lookout / Lookout Pass / Jackson’s / General Johnson’s
- 113 – Government Creek / Government Road Junction / Davis
- 114 – (H) Simpson’s Springs / Simpson Springs / Egans Springs / Lost Springs / Pleasant Springs
- 115 – Riverbed / River Bed / Red Bed
- 116 – Dugway / Shortcut Pass
- 117 – Blackrock / Black Rock / Blackrock Springs / Rock House
- 118 – (H) Fish Springs / Fish Creek / Fresh Springs / Smith Springs
- 119 – Boyd’s / Butte / Desert
- 120 – Willow Springs / Six Mile House / Mountain Springs / Willow Creek (original XP Station is still standing)
- 122 – Canyon / Burnt / Overland / Round / Round Fort
- 123 – (H) Deep Creek / Deep Springs / Ibapah / Egans

Pony Express Rider Oath
I, … , do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors, and Waddell, I will, under no circumstances, use profane language, that I will drink no intoxicating liquors, that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers, so help me God.
The oath above was used to swear in Pony Express Riders.
Pony Express Riders
There is not an “official” list of the Pony Express riders and the list below has been compiled from various sources from newspapers to family histories.
These brave riders were young men (boys) and grown men who had a sense of adventure and tackled inclement weather and harsh conditions.
- James Alcott
- Andrew Ole Anderson
- J.W. Anderson
- John Anson
- Henry Avis
- Rodney Babbit
- Lafayette Ball
- James Banks
- James Barnell
- Jim Baughn
- Marve Beardsley
- James Beatley
- Charles Becker
- John Bedford
- Thomas Bedford
- Martin Bengtson
- James Bently
- Asher Bigelow
- Charles Billman
- G.R. Gills
- “Black Sam”
- “Black Tom”
- Lafayette Bolwinkle
- Bond
- “Boston”
- William Boulton
- John Brandenburger
- Thomas H. Brentz, Judge
- James Brink
- Hugh Brown
- James Brown
- James Bucklin
- David Burnett
- Ed Bush
- Henry Butterfield
- William Campbell
- James Carlin
- Gustavas Carlton
- Alexander Carlyle
- William Carr
- William Carrigan
- James Carter
- Michael Casey
- William Cates
- James Clark
- John Clark
- Richard Clarke
- Richard Cleve
- Charles Cliff
- Gustavus Cliff
- William Frederick Cody aka “Buffalo Bill’
- Buck Cole
- Bill Corbett
- Edward Covington
- James Cowan
- Jack Crawford
- W. Crowninshield
- James Cumbo
- Louis Dean
- James Dennis
- William Dennis
- Frank Derrick
- Alex Diffenbacher
- Thomas Dobson
- J. Dodge
- Joseph Donovan
- W.E. Dorrington
- Calvin Downs
- Tommy Drum
- Daniel Drumheller
- James Dunlap
- William Eckels
- Major Howard Egan
- Howard Ransom Egan
- Richard Erastus Egan
- Thomas J. Elliott
- J.K. Elllis
- Charles Enos
- George Fair
- H.H. Faust
- Josiah Faylor
- B. F. Ficklin
- Johnny Fischer
- John Fisher
- William Fisher
- Thomas Flynn
- Jimmie Foreman
- Johnny Fry
- William Fulkerson
- Abram Fuller
- George Gardner
- James Gentry
- James Gilson
- Samuel Gilson
- Jim Gleason
- Frank Gould
- “Irish Tom” Grady
- Dick Grey
- Gotth Haist
- Martin Hall
- Parley Hall
- Sam Hall
- Billy Hailton
- James “Bean” Hamilton
- Sam Hamilton
- Robert H. Haslam
- Theodore Hawkins
- Reese Hawley
- Sam Haws
- Frank Helvey
- Levi Hensel
- William Hickman
- Lucius Ludosky Hickok
- Charles Higginbotham
- Benjamin Holladay
- Jesse Holladay
- Martin Hogan
- Clark Huntington
- Lester Huntington
- William James
- David Jay
- William Jenkins
- Jennings
- Samuel Jobe
- William Jones
- Jack Keetley
- Hiram Kelley
- Jay Kelley
- Mike Kelly
- Thomas King
- John Koerner
- Harry LaMont
- Thomas Landon
- George Larkin
- William Lawson
- Charles Larzelere
- Bow Legs
- James Madison Lenhart
- Geroge Leonard
- George Little
- N.N. Lytle
- Joseph Malcom
- Robert Martin
- Philip Mass (Messero)
- Elijah Maxfield
- Montgomery Maze
- Silas McAulas (Macaulas)
- Emmet McCain
- J.G. McCall
- Charlie McCarty
- James McDonald
- Pat McEneany
- David McLaughlin
- James McNaughton
- William McNaughton
- Lorenzo Meacona
- J.P. Mellen
- Howard Mifflin
- Charlie Miller
- James Monahan
- James Alexander Moore
- John Mussy
- Jeramiah Murphy
- Newton Myrick
- Paul Obershaw
- Mathew Orr
- Robert Orr
- G. Packard
- William Page
- Charles Parks
- Charles Parks
- John Paul
- “Mochila Joe” Paxton
- Dick Penny
- George Perkins
- Joseph Perkins
- Edward Pollinger
- William A. Poor
- Charles Pridham
- Thomas Ranahan
- Theodore Rand
- James Randalll
- Charles Reynolds
- Thomas Reynolds
- William Minor Richards
- H. Richards
- Johnson W. Richardson
- Sewell Ridley
- Bartholomew Riles
- Jonathan Rinehart
- Don Rising
- Harry Roff
- Edward Rush
- John Rutsel
- Thomas Ryan
- Robert Sanders
- F.H. Saunders
- G.G. Sangiovanni
- George Scovell
- Henry Clay Scrafford
- John Seebeck
- Jack Selman
- Joseph Serish
- James Shanks
- John Sinclair
- George Smethurst
- John Sprague
- George Spurr
- Edward Sterling
- William Streeper
- Robert Stricklen
- William Strohm
- William H. Strope
- John Sugget
- George Talcott
- Billy Tate
- George Thatcher
- J.J. Thomas
- Bill Thompson
- Charles Thompson
- James Thompson
- Alexander Toponce
- Elias Littleton Tough
- William Tough
- George Towne
- Bill Trotter
- Henry Tuckett
- Warren Upson
- John Wade
- Henry Wallace
- A. B. Waller
- Jun Waller
- John Watson
- Daniel Wescott
- Michael Whalen
- George Wheat
- “Whipsaw”
- J. Williams
- H.C. Wills
- Thomas Thornhill Willson
- Elijah Nicholas Wilson
- Slim Wilson
- Ira Wines
- Joseph Barney Wintle
- Henry Worley
- James Worthington
- Amos Wright
- George Wright
- Jose Zowgaltz

References Used
- National Pony Express Association: California Stations
- National Pony Express Association: Nevada Stations
- PonyExpress.org – Pony Express Riders
- National PonyExpress.org – Stations
- Wikiwand – Robert Haslam