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Simpson’s Park Nevada

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Simpson’s Park Nevada

Simpson’s Park Nevada Overview

Located in Lander County, Nevada, this Pony Express Stop was known as Simpson, Simpson’s Park, and Simpsons Park Station. Most newspaper articles that I have found from the later 1800s refer to it as Simpson’s Park.

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

Year Established/Founded

May 1859

Simpson’s Park Nevada History

Historic Resource Study Pony Express National Historic Trail

Sources, including a 1979 BLM report, generally agree on the identity of this station, known as Simpson or Simpson’s Park.

The crew of Captain J. H. Simpson, who camped overnight here while surveying a wagon road in May 1859, gave his name to the area.

In the spring of 1860, the Central Overland California & Pike’s Peak Express Company or Pony Express established a station at Simpson Park, known for its abundant wood, water, and grass.

On May 20, 1860, the day before the attack on Dry Creek Station, Indians raided Simpson Park, killed James Alcott, the station keeper, scattered the livestock, and burned the station.

When Richard Burton arrived at Simpson Park on October 13, 1860, he found an incomplete new station house.

During the last few months of the Pony Express, riders shared the station with the Overland Mail Company line, which stopped its stagecoaches at Simpson Park during most of the 1860s, until company officials shifted the route to include Austin.

Evidence of a small cemetery also existed on a hill north of the station as late as 1959.

As late as 1976, the station’s stone foundations existed near the mouth of Simpson Park Canyon, in the east end of a fenced meadow. 

Timeline

  • May 1859  – The crew of Captain James Hervey Simpson, who camped overnight here while surveying a wagon road, gave his name to the area
  • Spring 1860 – The Central Overland California & Pike’s Peak Express Company or Pony Express established a station at Simpson Park, known for its abundant wood, water, and grass
  • May 20, 1860 – The day before the attack on Dry Creek Station, Indians raided Simpson Park, killed James Alcott, the station keeper, scattered the livestock, and burned the station
  • October 13, 1860 – Richard Burton arrived at Simpson Park and found an incomplete new station house
  • October 26, 1861 – The operations cease after the first transcontinental telegraph was established on October 24, 1861

Elevation

Unknown at this time.

Location

Simpson's Park Nevada

GPS Coordinates

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Photos and Videos

None at this time.

References Used

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Simpson’s Park Nevada