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Ruby Valley Pony Express Station

Ruby Valley Pony Express Station

Ruby Valley Pony Express Station Overview

Located in Elko County, Nevada was the Ruby Valley Pony Express Station, which was identified as a Nevada State Historical Marker.

Learn more about the Pony Express: The Route, The Riders, The Ruins Left Behind.

Year Established/Founded

1859

Ruby Valley Pony Express Station History

This small building was originally located 60 miles to the south, where it served the Pony Express from April 1860 to 1861. It was moved to this location in 1960.

Historic Resource Study Pony Express National Historic Trail

Most sources acknowledge Ruby Valley as a Pony Express station.

The station began in 1859 as part of George Chorpenning’s mail route and later served the Pony Express and Overland Mail Company line.

William “Uncle Billy” Rogers and Frederick William Hurst managed station operations at Ruby Valley. Rogers served as station keeper when Richard Burton visited the site on October 7, 1860.  When Burton visited the station, it was considered a halfway point between Salt Lake City and the Carson Valley.

The area’s rich soil provided excellent opportunities to raise food and hay for the other stations along the route.

A band of Shoshone and the army also established camps near the station at various times. Camp Floyd’s Company B of the 4th Artillery Regiment arrived at Ruby Valley in May 1860 to protect the mail route during the Pyramid Lake War and remained there until October. Thereafter, the station’s name appeared on the 1861 mail contract list. 

As of 1979, a brass marker, provided by the Northeastern Nevada Historical Society, identified the station site. 

Timeline

  • 1859 – The station began as part of George Chorpenning’s mail route and later served the Pony Express and Overland Mail Company line
  • October 26, 1861 – The operations cease after the first transcontinental telegraph was established on October 24, 1861

Elevation

Unknown at this time.

Location

Ruby Valley Pony Express Station

GPS Coordinates

40.841851, -115.752835

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Photos and Videos

None at this time.

Nevada Historical Marker Category

None listed

Nevada Historical Marker Marker Type

Small blue marker

Nevada Historical Marker Number

Ruby Valley Pony Express Station is Nevada Historical Marker #108.

Click here to view the full list of Nevada State Historical Markers.

County

Elko County, Nevada

Nevada Historical Marker Transcription

This small building was originally located 60 miles to the south, where it served the Pony Express from April 1860 to 1861.  It was moved to this location in 1960.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO.  108

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

NORTHEASTERN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

References Used

Click here to view our list of History of the Southwest – Books and Online Resources to learn more about our amazing area!

Ruby Valley Pony Express Station