Katy Wheatley


The Pony Express
April 3rd, 1860 - October 1861

Many people think of the Pony Express as another attribute to the way of life in the American West, back when the West was the final frontier. However, this way of delivering messages only lasted a little over a year as more efficient, faster ways of communicating developed.

Operating in the area between Missouri and California, the Pony Express employed 80-180 riders [number not confirmed], who were preferably wiry (to keep a smaller burden on the horse) and under eighteen. Like a baton race, the riders would carry messages to a Pony Express outpost along the way, drop off the tired horse, pick up a fresh one, and then ride on to the next outpost, riding as fast as possible.

The invention that replaced the Pony Express was none other than the Telegraph, which was put to use the same month that the Pony Express went under.

Relevant Links:
Pony Express History
American West's history of the Pony Express
An extensive timeline of the history of the Telegraph