National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service: U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
 
 
Support the National Park Service
Pony Express National Historic TrailMud Spring relay station was located near this historical marker in western Nebraska.
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Pony Express National Historic Trail
Useful Links & Resources

This page has useful links and resources for additional information and web sites about the Pony Express National Historic Trail. It includes contact information for managed trail sites, a bibliography of suggested reading materials, and travel and tourism links to various states that the trail passes through:


 





 

 

 

National Park Service sites

  • Chimney Rock National Historic Site
    PO Box F
    Bayard, NE 69334
    Tel: 308-586-2581
    www.nps.gov/chro/


  • Scotts Bluff National Monument is a prominent natural landmark for emigrants on the Oregon and California trails. It has a visitor center, museum and bookstore. You can also drive or hike to the summit and visit trail ruts.

    Scotts Bluff National Monument
    PO Box 27
    Gering, NE 69341-0027
    Tel: 308-436-4340
    www.nps.gov/scbl/


  • Fort Laramie National Historic Site
    HC 72, Box 389
    Fort Laramie, WY 82212
    Tel: 307-837-2221
    www.nps.gov/fola/

Top of Page


 

 

Other Federal Agencies




  • The primary BLM information office for the Oregon, California, Mormon and Pony Express National Historic Trails is the Bureau of Land Management, Historic Trails Office. They can provide a wealth of information on trail routes, historic sites and accessibility and trail conditions:

    Bureau of Land Management
    Historic Trails Office
    1701 East E St.
    Casper, WY 82601
    Tel: 307-261-7700

  • The Salt Lake District Office administers 133 miles of the Pony Express Trail across public lands in Utah. Management is shared between the Salt Lake and Richfield districts. Write:

    Bureau of Land Management
    Salt Lake District Office
    Pony Express Resource Area
    2370 South
    2300 West
    Salt Lake City, UT 84119
    Tel: 801-977-4377

    or

    Richfield District Office
    150 East 900 North
    Richfield, UT 84701
    Tel: 801-896-8221

  • The Nevada State Office can provide general statewide information on the Pony Express and California Trails. More specific information can be obtained from the districts listed below, which provide on-the-ground management of the trails. Write:

    Bureau of Land Management
    Nevada State Office
    850 Harvard Waymore
    P.O. Box 12000
    Reno, NV 89520
    Tel: 702-785- 6628

  • The Carson City District Office can provide information on the Sand Springs pony express station. It has archaeological, historical and recreational sites along U.S. Highway 50 in Churchill County, Nevada, and district recreation guide. Write:

    Bureau of Land Management
    Carson City Office     Suite 300
    Carson City, NV 89706-063850
    Tel: 702-885-6000

  • The Battle Mountain District Office manages a segment of the Pony Express Trail in Nevada. It can provide information on accessibility and trail conditions across their management area. Write:

    Bureau of Land Management
    Battle Mountain District
    50 Bastian Rd
    P.O. Box 1420
    Battle Mountain, NV 89820
    Tel: 702-635-4000





Top of Page


 

 

Selected State Historic Sites and Organizations


  • Hollenberg Station State Historic Site is located on K-243 near Hanover, Kansas. In addition to living quarters for the Hollenberg family, the building served as a neighborhood grocery store, a tavern, and an unofficial post-office. Emigrants were able to obtain provisions at the ranch. Three years later, it became a Pony Express home station and later a stage station.


    Hollenberg Pony Express Station State Historic Site
    2889 23rd Road
    Hanover KS 66945-9634
    Tel: 785-337-2635

  • Rock Creek Station State Historic Park was a road ranch which catered to stages, freight lines and emigrant traffic on the Oregon Trail. It was used as a stage station and swing station on the Pony Express. It offers an interpretive center, picnic and playground areas, hiking and nature trails and Oregon Trail ruts and modern campground:


    Rock Creek Station State Historic Park
    57425 710 Road
    Fairbury, NE 68352
    Tel: 402-729-5777

  • Fort Kearny State Historic Park was the first military post along the Oregon Trail. There was a Pony Express Station in the vicinity of the fort. It has a museum, outdoor exhibits and bookstore:


    Fort Kearny State Historical Park
    Route 4
    Kearney, NE 68847
    Tel: 308-234-9513
 

Private Museums and Cooperating Associations


  • Pony Express National Museum was the starting point for the Pony Express route. It has a museum, and it can provide information on the total trail, books, brochures, a list of stations and rider and a driving route close to the trail. Write:

    Pony Express National Museum
    914 Penn St.
    P.O. Box 244
    St. Joseph, MO 64502
    Tel: 816-279- 5059

  • Patee House Museum has reconstructed offices of Russell, Majors and Waddell. It can provide the location of each station, information on the trail, museum store, books and videos. Write:

    Patee House Museum
    12th and Penn
    P.O. Box 1022
    St. Joseph, MO 64502
    Tel: 816-232-8206

  • Marysville Pony Express Barn has a museum-Pony Express Home Station #1. It is a small research library specializing in Pony Express history. Write:

    Marysville Pony Express Barn
    106 S. 8th
    Marysville, KS 66508
    Tel: 913-562-3825

  • Fort Sedgewick Depot Museum was the site of a pony express station and Fort Sedgewick, which has exhibits and information on the Pony Express and South Platte River Trail. Write:

    Fort Sedgewick Depot Museum
    P.O. Box 69
    Julesburg, CO 80737
    Tel: 303-474-2264

  • The National Pony Express Association is an all-volunteer, non-profit historical group organized for the purpose of identifying, reestablishing and marking the original pony express trail through the eight states it served: California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.


    National Pony Express Association
    P.O. Box 236
    Pollock Pines, CA 95726




Top of Page

 

For information about specific states, you may contact

Top of Page

 

 

 

Relevant Books and Publications


Comprehensive Management and Use Plan, Pony Express National Historic Trail. This is a large PDF document that is approximately 24.5mb in size. Contact the National Trails System Office in Salt Lake City if you would like to have a copy mailed to you. Otherwise the document can be downloaded from here. Acrobat Reader is required for viewing the document.

Benson, Joseph, The Traveler's Guide to the Pony Express. Helena, Montana, 1995.

Bloss, Roy S., Pony Express the Great Gamble. Berkeley: Howell- North, 1959.

Carter, Kate B., Utah and the Pony Express. Salt Lake City, 1947.

Chapman, Arthur, The Pony Express. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1932.

DiCerto, Joseph, The Pony Express, Hoofbeats in the Wilderness. Franklin Watts, 1989.

Hafen, LeRoy R., The Overland Mail 1849-1878.Cleveland: The Arthur Clark Company, 1926.

"Pony Express Legend and Fact." National Geographic, July 1980.

Reinfeld, Fred, Pony Express. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press; Bison Book, 1966.

Settle, Raymond W. and Settle, Mary Lund. War Drums and Wagon Wheels.Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1966.

Settle, Raymond W. and Settle, Mary Lund. Saddles and Spurs. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press; Bison Book, 1955.

Top of Page

 

 
State Line trail marker, photo by C. Fleming  

Did You Know?
There are 13 trails with a combined mileage of approximately 27 miles in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. There are 3 trails with a combined mileage of 2 miles on the North end of the park. The remaining 10 trails are located on the South End of the park.
more...

Disclaimer Accessibility Privacy Policy FOIA Notices USA.gov

Last Updated: February 06, 2007 at 10:25 EST