Last updated May 2, 2019. Oakland; Martinez; Benecia; Sacramento; Sacramento – Western Terminus; Five Mile House; Fifteen Mile House; Mormon Tavern; El Dorado The Pony Express is one of the most colorful episodes in American history, one which can be used to measure not only the growth of the nation, but the pioneering spirit of our predecessors. Day 1 Trailering the car to Kansas City, Mo. Riders changed horses at stations placed about ten to fifteen miles apart. The Hashknife brand now identifies the Pony Express. Here, you can visit trail traces, visitor centers, museums, hiking trails, historic structures and forts related to the Pony Express National Historic Trail. The Pony Express started in St. Joseph, Missouri and followed a route that was approximately 1,900 miles in length and included numerous stops. The text is by Howard R. Driggs and the artwork is by the renowned western artist, William Henry Jackson. There were 184 stations along the 1,900 mile route. Courtesy of the Library of Congress. The exciting nature of the enterprise has earned the Pony Express a place in American folklore. Preparing for West Desert Travel Map of the Pony Express Route April 3, 1860 - October 24, 1861 by William Henry Jackson. Pony Express Ride. We visited four different stops on our two week dual sport motorcycle trip in five western states. Pony express route April 3, 1860 - October 24, 1861 Pictorial map. The Hashknife outfit has the longest contract with the U.S. The route then passed through Carson City, Nevadaand eventually reached Sacramento, California. It followed the Oregon Trail for a ways, and then used the Mormon Trail to Salt Lake City. Water Route: San Francisco to Sacramento via American River or Overland from San Francisco. This itinerary requires preparation, but thoughtful travelers shouldn’t hesitate to go out and follow the path of the Pony Express riders. Despite its enduring place in Old West legend, the Pony Express never turned … In the early 1860s, the Pony Express passed through Sweetwater County during the height of its service. We traveled the Pony Express Route, The Oregon Trail, The Lincoln Highway, and The Lewis and Clark Trail. The pony express was a mail service where riders on horseback traveled from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. The route roughly followed the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, Wyoming's Fort Bridger, and the Mormon Trail to Salt Lake City, Utah. The trail traveled over the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and finally to California. The Pony Express National Historic Trail is an historic route that symbolizes the spirit of the American West. The route had a total of 184 stations, which all had station keepers to ensure smooth and successful operation. The Pony Express is a seasonal trolley service provided by the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia. Despite running just 18 months, the Pony Express has become a part of American lore. Relay teams of men on horseback carried mail from station to station. Alan English CPA/Flickr The route runs a rigorous 200 miles from Holbrook to Scottsdale for several days each winter and it becomes quite the celebration for each town it passes through. The Hashknife Pony Express makes its ride every January during the Parada del Sol festival, traveling 200 miles from Holbrook, Arizona, to Scottsdale, Arizona, and delivering 20,000 first-class letters by horseback. Starting shortly before the Civil War erupted across the United States, the Pony Express connected the east and west by having riders deliver mail from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California, a route setup by previous explorations and a system of relay stations and waypoints. Includes text by Howard R. Driggs and illustrations. The Pony Express Bikepacking Route, currently in the final stages of development, begins in St. Joseph, Missouri and covers more than 2,200 miles as it makes its way to Sacramento, California, crossing Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California along the way. The mochila was removed from the exhausted horse and swiftly placed over the saddle of the fresh waiting horse. Wild, Dangerous and Fast as Lighting! It was a financial flop. As the main source of information from coast to coast, riders accessed a series of relay stations along a central trail in the area. The Pony Express was a reliable means of communication, and only one mail delivery was ever lost. Nevada Route 50 is known as the Loneliest Highway in America, but it’s not lonelier than the OHV trail route that follows the actual Pony Express Route. RIDE THE HISTORIC PONY EXPRESS ROUTE THROUGH NEVADA! Sport motorcycle trip in five western states, 1861 Pictorial Map St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento,.. 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