NPEA NEWS ARCHIVE
2017
The Pony Express rides again
The annual re-ride of the Pony Express begins with a ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 5, at the Patee House Museum, 1202 Penn St. The riders will travel across the Missouri River to Elwood, Kansas, and then on through seven states to reach their destination in Sacramento, California. Penny Orrick of St. Joseph will … Continued
Hidden History: Pony Express
Just before the Civil War broke out, only two states west of Texas had joined the Union. Communications before 1860 between newly admitted California and Oregon and the main United States had to travel 25 days by stagecoach across nearly 2,000 miles of frontier — or even farther by steamer ship around South America. The … Continued
Czech Pony Express enthusiasts to hold historic celebration on three Continents
An unusual international event is set to kick off in the Czech countryside next weekend (May 20, 2017). The project will bring together the “tramping” outdoors movement, next year’s centenary of the foundation of Czechoslovakia and the historic Pony Express in the US. It will wrap up in Canberra, Australia next April – and its … Continued
A Bible and a Gun: The History of the Pony Express
Who knew that the Pony Express was founded with a presumption that its riders would be Christian? On the evening of April 3, 1860, a lone rider set out on horseback from St. Joseph, Missouri, carrying a mochila (backpack) crammed full of 49 letters, five private telegrams, and some newspapers. Ten days later, at 1:00 … Continued
This Week in History: The beginnings of the Pony Express
This week in history features the birth of an American icon, one that shows just how far we were willing to go to get the latest news in the middle of the 19th century. April 3, 1860 In today’s fast-paced world of the New York Stock Exchange, where fortunes are made and lost in mere … Continued
Pony Express celebrates 157 years!
The NPEA is celebrating the 157th Anniversary of the Pony Express. View the fun game created by Google Doodle in 2015.
Lecture Series at the Pony Express Museum, St. Joseph
Author, historian and writer Phillis Foxworty Preator will visit St. Joseph on Tuesday, Jan. 31, to present this year’s third program. It will be a talk about how ponies and the Pony Express has helped her write history. Lecture Series at the Pony Express Museum, St. Joseph
2016
Union Cemetery in Kansas City is Listed on Historic Register
Markers in the 27-acre cemetery near downtown feature the names of Pony Express co-founder Alexander Majors and 19th century Missouri artist George Caleb Bingham. Also buried there are John Calvin McCoy, who platted the town of “West Port” in 1834 and sold supplies to pioneers, and Johnston Lykins, the first legitimate mayor of what became … Continued
In the News: The 2016 Annual Pony Express Re-Ride was a success!
The 2016 Annual Pony Express Re-Ride was a success! Volunteer riders, State captains, and volunteer event staff all made the 2016 Annual Re-Ride event possible! This annual event helps keep the spirit and memory of the Pony Express alive. It brings communities together all across the historic trail. Several news stories were posted sharing our annual event. … Continued