Resources
A Cyclist Goes It Alone on Nevada’s Highway 50
I stood with my bike on Hickison Summit, gazing at the windswept, sepia-tinted desert below. Dusty sagebrush lined the road stretching before me; snowcapped peaks rimmed the horizon. I had a reservation in a historic hotel in Eureka, Nevada, that evening and five hours of daylight to cover 46 miles. I pushed off and began … Continued
FROM MAIL TO MILEAGE
Woman bikes Pony Express Trail from start to finish For those in St. Joseph, the Pony Express is something that can sometimes seem contained within the city limits, with museums, statues and events dedicated to the mail service synonymous with the Old West. But for Jan Bennett, the Pony Express reaches far beyond St. Joseph, … Continued
Family searches rubble after fire destroys historic Phillips Station
Phillips Station sits just before Echo Summit at the Sierra-at-Tahoe entrance. The property is named after Joseph W.D. Phillips, who built a life on the homestead in 1850. Since then, a member of the family has called the property home for several generations. Carol Pearson and her daughter Abbey are the current residents. “My great-great-grandfather … Continued
California’s Rich Pioneer History Will Be Celebrated May 4 in Coloma
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – Before the famed California Gold Rush brought tens of thousands of gold seekers and others to Northern California, there were hundreds of pioneers who paved the way for them to arrive, already having constructed homes and businesses, started farms and even began building cities. Read More …
Dennis Cassinelli: Pony Express Stations, Part 4: Dayton
In 1849, Abner Blackburn and other prospectors heading to the California gold fields discovered the first Nevada gold where Gold Canyon reaches the Carson River at a place that later became Dayton. In the early 1850s, Spafford Hall constructed a log station and trading post to accommodate the needs of emigrants bound for California along … Continued
Pony Express stations, Part 4: Dayton
In 1849, Abner Blackburn and other prospectors heading to the California gold fields discovered the first Nevada gold where Gold Canyon reaches the Carson River at a place that later became Dayton. In the early 1850s, Spafford Hall constructed a log station and trading post to accommodate the needs of emigrants bound for California along … Continued
Today in History, April 13: The first Pony Express mail arrived
1860 The first Pony Express mail, traveling by horse and rider relay, reached Sacramento, California, after 10 days of travel. Read More …
Celebrate the Pony Express at the Benicia Capitol, April 14
BENICIA [CA] — Next year will mark the 160th anniversary of the founding of the Pony Express on April 3 of 1860. To commemorate this important occasion, the Benicia State Parks Association is sponsoring an historic lecture and presentation at the Benicia State Capitol on Sunday, April 14, 2019 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. (please … Continued
Pony Express stations, Part 3: Carson City
By 1851, a trading post and a small ranch were established on the Carson Branch of the California Emigrant Trail in what is now Carson City. Frank Hall, W.J. Hall and George Jollenshee operated the station near what is now Fifth and Thompson streets. They called the place Eagle Station due to a large stuffed … Continued
Historically Yours: USPO honors Pony Express
Historically Yours: Pony Express cuts mail delivery time in half In 1850, California joined the Union and a faster means of communication was needed between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. Three businessmen — William Russell, Alexander Majors and William Waddell — came up with a plan to reduce the delivery time by more than … Continued