A major restoration project has begun on the historic 1859 stone horse barn at the Pony Express Museum in Marysville, with completion expected by August. Led by BHS Construction of Manhattan, the project involves replacing deteriorated masonry using historically accurate mortar.
Funding includes $100,000 grants from both the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Heritage Trust Foundation. The project follows heritage conservation standards and was supported by the National Park Service’s Vanishing Treasures Program. Museum board members and local planners played key roles in securing funding.
The barn, originally built by Joseph Cottrell, is one of only two original Pony Express structures still accessible to tourists. Restoration is estimated at $275,000, with current funds covering only three walls. Additional fundraising is underway.