Week of November 27 – Pony Express trivia

The Pony Express riders traveled between Missouri and California to deliver mail.

The Pony Express ran for 18 months from April 1860 to October 1861.

The Pony Express trail was 1900 miles.

The Pony Express riders were paid $100 a month.

86 men are known to have ridden for the Pony Express during its operation of just over 18 months.

A new rider took over every 75 to 100 miles and horses were replaced approximately every 15 miles.

Approximately 400 horses (thoroughbreds, mustangs, pintos, and Morgan) were purchased for the Pony Express.

The fastest delivery of mail by the Pony Express took 7 days and 17 hours.  The message was Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address.  The speech was telegraphed to Fort Kearny, Nebraska, taken by Pony Express to Folsom, California, and telegraphed to Sacramento.

In the first weeks of service, each rider carried a sheath knife, a horn, a cavalry rifle and colt revolvers and a Bible.  They carried these items for only a week but every pound slowed them down so their equipment was reduced to a single revolver.