The sound of hoofbeats will once again echo through Historic Folsom later this month as riders retracing one of America’s most legendary journeys make their way down Sutter Street carrying a traditional Pony Express mochila on the final day of the 2026 National Pony Express Re-Ride.
For local residents, history enthusiasts and families looking for a unique summer outing, June 25 will offer a rare chance to witness a living piece of American history in the very community that once served as an important stop along the famed Pony Express route.
Riders participating in the annual relay are expected to arrive at the Folsom History Museum, 823 Sutter Street, at approximately 11:30 a.m. on that Thursday. The arrival will feature a traditional mochila exchange in Historic Folsom before the riders continue west toward Sacramento for the official conclusion of the cross-country journey.
To celebrate the occasion, the Folsom History Museum will host activities for all ages, historical exhibits and opportunities to meet the modern-day riders who are helping keep the Pony Express legacy alive. The museum will also offer free admission from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., inviting visitors to explore exhibits highlighting Folsom’s transportation, railroad and Gold Rush history while enjoying one of the city’s most unique annual historical events.
The arrival in Folsom comes during the final hours of an extraordinary 10-day relay that began June 15 at the historic Patee House in St. Joseph, Missouri. From there, volunteer riders set out on horseback carrying a traditional leather mochila filled with 1,570 commemorative letters, beginning a nonstop journey of more than 1,900 miles across the American West.
Operating 24 hours a day, the relay follows the original Pony Express route through Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California before concluding in Sacramento.
The modern re-ride mirrors the spirit of the original Pony Express service, which operated from April 1860 until October 1861. Although the original service lasted only 18 months before the completion of the transcontinental telegraph, it became one of the most celebrated stories of the American frontier.