The Pony Express rode again last week in Missouri, where several riders marked the famed delivery service’s 158th anniversary by completing a 2,000-mile re-enactment.
The original Pony Express moved mail by horseback between California and Missouri from 1860-1861, becoming a storied part of the Old West.
The 10-day “re-ride” began in Sacramento, CA, where Postmaster Michelle Johnson swore in the first group of riders. They carried commemorative letters and cards in old-fashioned leather satchels, handing off the mail in relays until it reached St. Joseph, MO.
Roughly 700 riders participated altogether, with each relay lasting about 1-5 miles.
Johnson said observers “cannot avoid being touched by [the riders’] passion to keep our history alive. They have an indescribable energy. I walked away after swearing in the first rider feeling passionate about their dedication and hard work.”