1860 the pony express books

New pony express book looks at legendary ride local news. Nprs linda wertheimer talks with the author of a new book offering a. The lack of speedy communication between the midwest and the west was accentuated by the looming threat of a civil war. Messages were carried on a horseback relay across the prairies, plains, deserts, and mountains of the western united states. As soon as it arrived, the mail was quickly transferred to the pony express station. Joseph, missouri, and sacramento, california, and from sacramento to san francisco, california, by steamer april 1860october 1861.

Joseph, missouri, carrying a satchel of mail and the hopes of a new companythe pony express. Wells fargo corporate archives for people in the 1860s, it could take weeks or months to hear the latest news or get updates from friends and family on the other side of the country. Although a financially disastrous brief enterprise, the pony express and. Dayton author and historian dennis cassinellis books can be ordered at a discount on his blog at. Johnny fry was born in bourbon county, kentucky to john fry and mary fry in 1840. Buy a cheap copy of riding the pony express book by clyde robert bulla. In 1860, there were about 186 pony express stations that were about 10 miles 16 km apart along the pony express route. Pony express, 1860 1861 a rand mcnally elf book grant, bruce on. The shortlived mailrelay system was a financial disaster doomed by the telegraph, but its. Aug 29, 2018 despite its enduring place in old west legend, the pony express never turned a profit during its year and a half history. Pony express route april 3, 1860 october 24, 1861 library.

Pony express printable minibooks, lesson plans and ideas. Informed by his intimate knowledge of horses and western geography, ralph moodys exciting account of the eighteen critical months that the pony express operated between april 1860 and october 1861 pays tribute to the true grit and determination of the riders and horses of the pony express. I recommend this to kids who like stories that have adventure and with kids who are brave. The pony express opened on april 3, 1860, with riders leaving st. This book told about how the pony express linked the west coast and the east. Read the pony express tariffs to see how important weight was to the company. In 1860, the first pony express rider set out on a trail from missouri to. The pony express was in operation for only 18 months between april 1860 and october 1861. The pony express 1860 paintings of carl rakeman about. The pony express was a mail service delivering messages, newspapers, mail, and small packages from st. Even though his father is a pony express rider they meet together and help each other out. Before the pony express began in 1860, western settlers had no way to hear regular news from their families or the government. This relay system along the pony express national historic trail crossing eight states was the most direct and practical means of eastwest communications in 1860.

It sounds good in print, but the advertisement didnt come into existence until 1923 for a magazine cover, said pat hearty of south jordan, utah division president for the national pony express association. Three men in the mid1800s had an idea to open up a mail delivery system that reached from the midwest all the way to california. The pony express, for a time, was the fastest link between the east and the west. The most complete books on the pony express are the story of the pony express and saddles and. In the spring of 1860 on the eve of a civil war that threatened to tear the country apart. By that time the only thing which mattered was a boys weight. In addition to being considered nonessential, the pony express was considered impractical. The pony express bible is a protestant bible that was distributed to the pony express riders in 1860 and. He bought 500 of the fastest horses he could find and hired 80 daring riders to begin service on the pony express on april 30, 1860. Joseph, missouri to sacramento, california in ten days. Sep 14, 2004 california newspaper helpwanted ad, 1860 the pony express is one of the most celebrated and enduring chapters in the history of the united states, a story of the allamerican traits of bravery, bravado, and entrepreneurial risk that are part of the very fabric of the old west.

In may 1860, robert pony bob haslam took off on the most legendary ride in pony express history. This volume touts the pony express as the most remarkable mail service ever in existence, and it could be right. The express bride is about a woman, jacqueline rivers, who has taken over running a pony express and stage coach station in utah territory after her fathers death around 1860. Pony express route april 3, 1860 october 24, 1861 copy 1. In 1860, the first pony express rider set out on a trail from missouri to california. Map of the pony express route april 3, 1860 october 24. On june 16, 1860, about ten weeks after the pony express began operations, congress authorized the a bill instructing the secretary of the treasury to subsidize the building of a transcontinental telegraph line to connect the missouri river and the pacific coast. The pony express began april 3, 1860, and it operated for only 18 months at which time the transcontinental telegraph began operation. Nevertheless, the pony express has become synonymous with the old west. Author anita louise mccormick traces the history of the pony express as it provided reliable communication for americans as they settled in the west. Young men once rode horses to carry mail from missouri to california in the unprecedented time of only 10 days. Created in april 1860 and disbanded in october of 1861, the pony express crossed the great plains, the rocky mountains and the sierra nevada, playing a crucial role in keeping the american west informed of union news just before the civil warduring its 18 months in operation.

The pony express was a mail service delivering messages, newspapers, and mail using relays. One historian cites the only two things which were required to be a pony express rider weight under 125 lbs. In 1860, a mail carrying service called central overland california and pike s peak express company, more notoriously known as the pony express, was established by three business partners. Riders carried the mail a distance of nearly 2,000 mi 3,200 km in about eight days, often traveling through hostile native american territory.

Hastings building in sacramento, california, western terminus of the pony express in 1860, there were about 186 pony express stations that were about 10 miles 16 km apart along the pony express route. Dick park is the son of a pony express rider, katy kelly is the daughter of a way station master, and little bear is an indian boy who lives nearby. It shows how a little boy and his father be together and have a happy life. The central route in 1860, a relay system of horses began to carry mail across the 1,966milelong central route between st. The 20yearold was scheduled to make his usual 75mile run from fridays station east to buckland station in nevada.

Dinsdales illustration of the arrival of the pony express in san francisco after midnight on april 14, 1860. At the same time, another rider, billy hamilton, left sacramento, california, bringing mail east. Shows route of pony express with names and location of relay stations. One of the partners, alexander majors, held deep religious beliefs, and insisted that all employees of the company, even pony express riders, honor the sabbath. Pony express presented in a comicbook format, this minibook will engage readers at all levels and encourage them to delve more deeply into the mass movement west and how it shaped the country. The pony express was a fast mail service crossing the north american continent from the missouri river to the pacific coast, operating from april 1860 to october 1861. Map of the pony express route april 3, 1860 october 24, 1861 by william henry jackson. Pony express ads recruiting riders said orphans preferred. Johnny fry first rider of the pony express legends of america. Presented in a comicbook format, this minibook will engage readers at all levels and encourage them to delve more deeply into the mass movement west and how it shaped the country. Johnny fry 18401863 johnny fry was the first official westbound rider of the pony express and union soldier killed during the civil war. The eastbound trip took almost 10 days, and the westbound trip11 daysabout half the travel time of stagecoaches. Pony riders of 1860 and 1861 held status in their communities as celebrities.

Pony express the fast eastwest mail service from 18601861. On april 3, 1860, the first pony express mail, traveling by horse and rider relay teams, simultaneously leaves st. Apr 01, 2019 the evening of april 3, 1860, a crowd gathered at the pony express station in st. Operated by central overland california and pikes peak express company, the pony express was a great financial investment to the u. The pony express in american history nashville public library. The pony express the legend of the galloping riders of the pony express endures, though the service lasted only 18 months, from april 1860 to october 1861. April 24, 2014, the overland mail company bible is compared to the pony express bible by rare book consultant rebecca romney. In the era before easy mass communication, the pony express was the thread that tied east to west. Joseph, missouri, and sacramento, california, simultaneously to race the routes 1,966 miles. William russell, alexander majors and william waddell were the three founders of the pony express.

The company began making deliveries in april 1860, but service ground to a. The first ride of the pony express read an excerpt travel with the first pony express riders through the dramatic and dangerous wild west in a celebration of americas finest frontiersmen. And since this was a book about the pony express, horses were an. The pony express was a mail service delivering mess. Pony express riders live on today, still dodging varmints and villains in books and movies, evoking speed and thrills on countless commercial products. The young, skinny, wiry fellows all had to weigh less than 125 lbs, and had to cover the 1966 miles from st. The pony express was a mail service delivering messages, newspapers, and mail using relays of horsemounted riders that operated from april 3, 1860 to october 24, 1861 between missouri and california in the united states of america. Russell advertised for hostlers and riders to work on the overland express route via salt lake city in march 1860. April 1860 to october 1861 the pony express was the fastest way to get your message from the east to the west and back again. The pony express rides on a history of the central overland pony express 1860 1861 between saint joseph, missouri and sacramento and san francisco, california. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study.

Holladay established 200 stations 25 miles apart along a 1,900mile trail from st. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum photographs, stereoviews, engravings, maps, and documents illustrating the history of the first transcontinental railroad. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Pony express route april 3, 1860 october 24, 1861 pictorial map. If you know of a book on the pony express that you dont see listed, please send book information.

The pony express american transportation pioneer william h. During its 18 months of operation, it reduced the time for messages to travel between the atlantic and pacific coasts to about 10 da. Lc trails, available also through the library of congress. In 1860, an illfated pony express rider, whose name has been lost to history, was crossing the trackless wastes of nevada when he vanished, likely killed by indians. The twisted truth if it absolutely, positively had to get there overnight or as soon as possible in 1860 youd have to put it on the pony express. She loves her life, her work, and the family the pony express riders she cares for surrounding her. They were anxiously awaiting a delayed train that was bringing mail for the pony express. New pony express book looks at legendary ride local. Indeed, many referred to the pony express as the great gamble. He could not escape it in researching his latest book, west like lightning. The pony express was a private mail service which operated between st.