159th Anniversary of the Pony Express
Published: April 3, 2019
The Pony Express was a mail delivery service in operation between 1860 and 1861. It reduced the time necessary to send a mail from East to the West to just 10 days. Despite its short existence it continues to live on in American memory. The following are select government documents concerning the Pony Express and the Pony Express National Historic Trail.
Related Legislative Publications
Honoring Worth County - 157 Cong. Rec. E1195, June 24, 2011
Mentions Robert Stricklen as being one of the first riders of the Pony Express.
Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 - 123 Stat. 991, March 30, 2009
Amended the National Trails System Act to include a provision for the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a study of the approximately 20-mile southern alternative route of the Pony Express Trail from Wathena, Kansas, to Troy, Kansas, and other routes of the Pony Express Trail, to determine the feasibility and suitability of designation of 1 or more of the routes as components of the Pony Express National Historic Trail.
National Trails System Act Amendment - S. Rept. 109-44, March 30, 2005
Report to accompany S. 54 (109th Congress), a bill to amend the National Trails System Act to require the Secretary of the Interior to update the feasibility and suitability studies of four national historic trails including the Pony Express National Historic Trail.
Pioneer National Historic Trails Studies Act - S. Rept. 108-64, June 8, 2003
Report to accompany S. 635 (108th Congress), a bill to amend the National Trails System Act to require the Secretary of the Interior to update the feasibility and suitability studies of four national historic trails including the Pony Express National Historic Trail.
"Although it lasted only about 18 months, the Pony Express achieved a cherished role in American lore. Its daring riders, which included Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok, were able to deliver mail from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento. California in ten days." - Prepared Statement of Hon. Doug Bereuter, U.S. Representative from Nebraska
Senate Hearing 108-47, May 6, 2003
Senate Hearing to discuss several bills including S. 635 (108th Congress), the Pioneer National Historic Trails Studies Act.
Amending the Natural Trails System Act - 148 Cong. Rec. S11637, November 19, 2002
Discussion on H.R. 37 (107th Congress) to amend the National Trails System Act.
House Hearing on H.R. 4103, 107th Congress, May 4, 2002
Legislative hearing to discuss several bills including H.R. 4103 (107th Congress), an act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to Transfer Certain Public Lands in Natrona County, Wyoming.
House Hearing on H.R. 37, 107th Congress, April 26, 2001
Legislative hearing to discuss several bills including H.R. 37 (107th Congress), an Act to amend the National Trails System Act to update the feasibility and suitability studies of 4 national historic trails including the Pony Express National Historic Trail.
An act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming - 112 Stat. 2782, October 27, 1998
Authorized the Secretary of the Interior to establish, in Casper, Wyoming, a center for the interpretation of nearby historic trails including the Pony Express Trail.
Related Federal Register Notices
Official Trail Marker for the Pony Express National Historic Trail - 65 FR 16416, March 28, 2000
This notice issueds the official trail marker insignia of the Pony Express National Historic Trail. The graphic image was developed in conjunction with the comprehensive management and use plan. It came into use in 1997 by the National Park Service to mark the Trail's route.
Designation of the Sacramento-San Francisco Pony Express Route as a Component of the Pony Express National Historic Trail - 62 FR 36840, July 9, 1997
This notice announces the Secretary of the Interior's decision to include the Sacramento-San Francisco route of the Pony Express as part of the Pony Express National Historic Trail.
Notice To Amend Pony Express Resource Management Plan - 62 FR 5034, February 3, 1997
The Bureau of Land Management proposed an amendment to the Pony Express Resource Management Plan that would designate certain public lands in Utah and Tooele Counties as a Special Recreation Management Area.
Related Resources
- Find out more about the Pony Express Trail from the National park Service.
- Read about the Pony Express Trail on the Bureau of Land Management’s website.
- Check out this annotated bibliography of the Pony Express by the National Park Service.
- Download this Junior Ranger Program handout on the Pony Express National Historic Trail from the National Park Service.
- Learn more about the Pony Express from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
- Explore the Smithsonian National Postal Museum’s exhibit on the Pony Express.