June 24, 2024 — The National Pony Express Association’s (NPEA) 2024 National Re-Ride is in full swing, with mail being carried by horseback across eight states, 24 hours a day, by over 700 riders. This morning’s “Report from the Trail” notes:
“FROM: NPEA Stablemaster
SENT: June 24th, 2024 | 5:53am PDT
STATUS:
The Pony reached Ibapah, UT, and turned the mochila [leather mail pouch] over to the Nevada Riders at 6:40am MDT. The Pony is running on schedule, arriving at Ibapah only 10 minutes behind the actual scheduled time. The Pony will be on PDT now, riding on west in Nevada and California.”
This annual reenactment began on June 17 in St. Joseph, Missouri, and is set to conclude on June 27 in Sacramento, California, retracing the historic Pony Express route from over 160 years ago.
A Glimpse into History
The Pony Express was a brief yet legendary mail service, known for its speed and the perilous conditions faced by its riders. It played a crucial role in America’s westward expansion and remains an enduring symbol of the Wild West. According to the NPEA:
“Young men once rode horses to carry mail from Missouri to California in the unprecedented time of only 10 days! This relay system along the Pony Express National Historic Trail crossing eight states was the most direct and practical means of east-west communications in 1860. 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. In the era before easy mass communication, the Pony Express was the thread that tied East to West.”
The Transcontinental Telegraph
The introduction of the transcontinental telegraph line, authorized by Congress on June 16, 1860, ultimately led to the end of the Pony Express. By October 26, 1861, San Francisco was in direct contact with New York City via telegraph, marking the termination of the Pony Express. The last Pony Express letters completed their journey in November 1861.
Following the Riders
While much of the original Pony Express route has faded, small segments and historic sites remain. The 2024 Re-Ride covers 1,966 miles across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California. Enthusiasts can track the riders in real-time thanks to a GPS tracker in the mochila. The 2024 Re-Ride Schedule can be found here. *Please note that all times are estimates and the Pony can be ahead or behind.*
The NPEA also offers the public an opportunity to send letters via the mochila during the Re-Ride, with each letter receiving a special commemorative postmark. Although it is too late to send a letter for the 2024 ride, the NPEA website provides information for the 2025 deadlines.
About the NPEA
Headquartered in Pollock Pines, California, the NPEA is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Pony Express National Historic Trail and its history. Since the 1960s, the NPEA has been staging reenactments and became the primary advocate for the trail’s preservation following its designation as a National Historic Trail in 1992. Each June, the NPEA keeps the spirit of the Pony Express alive through its Annual Re-Ride, alternating directions each year.
For more details on this year’s schedule and to follow the ride, visit the NPEA website.
