There is a published auto tour route that sticks to paved roads, but there is also an unpaved section, mostly in utah and nevada. Teri cagle has been working with horses for over 40 years. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. And since this was a book about the pony express, horses were an essential part of the story. Although a financially disastrous brief enterprise, the pony express and. Near the end he even tells the story of one of the riders that was told to him first hand.
An account of the most remarkable mail service ever in existence, and its place in history. Starting with the foundation of the pony express in the controversy around slavery and the missouri compromise and the role the express played in keeping california in the union as a free state. Explains the route of the pony express and accounts from pony express riders. The story of the pony express is a bit like the story of paul reveres ride an actual. This is the story of pony bob haslam, the brave young man who made the longest and most daring ride in the history of the pony express. Anyone wondering how the story of the pony express became muddled need only consider that it took half a century to write a book about the subject, and its author was a dubious chronicler. The lively story is sure to inspire beginning readers to learn more about this chapter of american history. She read about a geocaching challenge to find certain pony express related geocaches in each of the states through which the original riders carried the mail. Russell had an idea that would allow pony and horse riders to ride across the country in order to deliver mail more quickly.
The history and legacy of americas most famous mail service. A history of the pony express combined with the authors experience riding the pony express trail from st. Reports from the trail national pony express association. Special needs students may work in pairs to make the map and decorate the. Trip planning begins with an internet search and buying a couple of pony express books. He has written several of national geographics science chapters and history chapters, including riding with the mail. In 1860, riding for the pony express was difficult work riders had to be tough and lightweight. Leaving red buttes on the north platte river near presentday casper, wyo. Buffalo bill cody was just 14 years old, so the story goes, when he made his worldfamous ride for the pony express. Dick park is the son of a pony express rider, katy kelly is the daughter of a way station master, and little bear is an indian boy who lives nearby.
The book tells the true story of each of the first pony express riders and the. The author intermingles history about the pony express and the 1860 election of president lincoln. If youre like me, youre probably imagining men dressed in fringed leather uniform on horses, riding at breakneck speeds to carry important business and love letters hundreds of miles, perhaps while simultaneously shooting their wincester rifles in the air. The story of the youngest pony express rider, known as bronco charlie, is taken from his own reminiscences and pony express museum records. Johnny fry first rider of the pony express legends of. Cody horseback near pahaska teepee in 19 are from the great online photo archive of the buffalo bill museum and grave in colorado. The pony express route that the riders used went through the territories of utah, nebraska and kansas sharing relay stations with the butterfield overland mail company stagecoach line. Thanks to pony express history the pony express reride runs every year, all the way from st. The pony express consisted of relays of men riding horses carrying saddlebags of mail across a 2000mile trail. Bitesized, succinct, and met my needs to understand the big picture surrounding the 19 months the pony express was in service. The name pony express evokes images of courageous young men crossing long stretches of country, frequently under harsh conditions, facing the constant. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. I had stopped at the visitors center for literature, after handing me the information the lady said by the way the pony express will arrive at 10. Johnny fry 18401863 johnny fry was the first official westbound rider of the pony express and union soldier killed during the civil war.
Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. The pony express is one of the most colorful episodes in american history, one which can be used to measure not only the growth of the nation, but the pioneering spirit of our predecessors. More advanced students may write their own invitations. Patrick hearty, past president of the national pony express association npea, wrote the foreword of a long trail rolling for me. The history of the british riding pony is the fruit of many years of dedicated research and writing by an acknowledged expert on the subject. Dec 22, 2009 the pony express combines the legends and lore of this remarkable mail service with contemporary photography and archival images and documents from the past, and celebrates the sesquicentennial of the startand endof those daring rides, which ended with the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
Aug 29, 2018 in may 1860, robert pony bob haslam took off on the most legendary ride in pony express history. How three friends keep the mail moving is just part of this fastmoving tale about the great experiment in transcontinental communication. Using the pony express, mail could arrive in california in as few as 9 days rather than the weeks it took to arrive when sent by horse carriage. Bradleys book, the story of the pony express, published by the a. Drawing on archive material, the book explains how bloodlines emerged over the years and how the types we now see in our show rings have been developed. Evidently, something happened to frys father, as, when he was 16 he moved with his mother and her new husband, benjamin wells to rushville, missouri around. Yet im intrigued by the history of the pony express trail and reckon its as good a way as any to get to california. The book is set a day or two after abraham lincolns election and the pony. Nov 01, 2003 the story of the pony express language. We are reading the little house series, and many of the elements of prairie life are already familiar to him.
Overland mail company edit the pony express route that the riders used went through the territories of utah, nebraska and kansas sharing relay stations with the butterfield overland mail company stagecoach line. Riding the pony express dick park is the son of a pony express rider, katy kelly is the daughter of a way station master, and little bear is an indian boy who lives nearby. Waddells papers, now in a collection at the huntington library in san marino. Below are action packed, engaging kids books on the pony express history, its riders, and its legacy. Settles account is unique as he was the first writer and historical researcher to make use of pony express founder william b. Pony express riding school at hoofhaven farms 4777 south mission road fallbrook, ca 92028. On april 3, 1860, the pony express began delivering mail across the overland route to california. As part of my constant, ongoing study of 19th century american history, i listened to the audible version of the pony express. Cody at age 11, buffalo bill in his show costume, 1887 and w. Plans for the pony express were spurred by the threat of the civil war and the need for faster communication with the west. Pony express history in the best childrens books k8. History westward expansion the pony express was a mail delivery service that ran between missouri and california.
Joseph, missouri, to sacramento, california the pony express could deliver a letter faster than ever before. The 20yearold was scheduled to make his usual 75mile run from fridays station east to. Pony express bible owned by the society of california pioneers. His route took him along what we now call the oregoncaliforniamormon trail. Johnny fry first rider of the pony express legends of america.
The pony express combines the legends and lore of this remarkable mail service with contemporary photography and archival images and documents from the past, and celebrates the sesquicentennial of the startand endof those daring rides, which ended with the completion of the transcontinental railroad. He and his wife, linda, hosted my son elliot and i a few years ago, and. Ironically, buffalo bill never was a rider for the pony express. Well, perhaps not wrong, but exaggerated or romanticized. Even though his father is a pony express rider they meet together and help each other out. The story of the pony express national postal museum. Jan 01, 2007 i have just read riding the pony express to my almost 3 year old son. Young men riding horses at breakneck speed carried the mail utilizing rest stations along the way where fresh riders and horses could relieve tired continue reading. The paperback edition is 42 pages and includes pictures of important people, places, and events. Sep 14, 2015 the audible versions length is 1 hour and minutes.
This little volume has but one purpose to give an authentic, useful, and readable account of the pony express. The national geographic history chapters series features archival photos with explanatory captions as well. I recommend this to kids who like stories that have adventure and with kids who are brave. Written about 100 years ago, this history of the pony express is a fun and interesting read. Introduce early elementary students to the history of the mail system with riding with mail. The pony express scholastic scholastic books for kids. The history and legacy of americas most famous mail service charles river. Visschers book a thrilling and truthful history of the pony express was. There is the perfect combination of horses and intrigue, and it also connected him to u. Simple chapters explore why the pony express was needed, the riders on the pony express, and the end of the pony express due to the telegraph system. Visschers book a thrilling and truthful history of the pony express was published in 1908, nearly half a century after the pony express went out of business.
She read several books from our library detailing the history and locations of the trail and the stations. The history and legacy of americas most famous mail service comprehensively examines the history of the pony express from beginning to end, explaining how it operated and who worked for it. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the pony express like never before, in no time at all. On april 3, 1860, a new crosscountry mail carrier called the pony express began operation. Joseph, missouri, and sacramento, california, and from sacramento to san francisco, california, by steamer april 1860october 1861. My first encounter with the annual pony express reride was at old sacramento in 2007. I didnt know it wasnt profitable or that it only lasted a year and a half, 19 months actually or that it was essential in saving the union. Riding the pony express by clyde robert bulla, 1948, t. The roughriding adventure of bronco charlie, pony express rider by marlene targ brill 2010, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Riders of the pony express by ralph moody goodreads. The pony express by samuel hopkins adams goodreads. Three men in the mid1800s had an idea to open up a mail delivery system that reached from the midwest all the way to california. Sep 08, 2015 the image of the cover of buffalo bill and the pony express is from.
Nine historical romances revive the brief era of the pony express. Bronco charlie and the pony express lerner publishing group. It shows how a little boy and his father be together and have a happy life. Johnny fry was born in bourbon county, kentucky to john fry and mary fry in 1840. Buy a cheap copy of riding the pony express book by clyde robert bulla.
The lack of speedy communication between the midwest and the west was accentuated by the looming threat of a civil war. Use stick horses and have the students take turns galloping their invitations pdf to the recipients. We were able to read it in one sitting, too, which is. The history and legacy of americas most famous mail service, by charles river editors. The pony express used horseandrider relay teams to speed letters. I have just read riding the pony express to my almost 3 year old son. The pony express the legend of the galloping riders of the pony express endures, though the service lasted only 18 months, from april 1860 to october 1861. The story of the pony express, roald amundsen and robert scott race to the south pole, and serengeti journey. Apr 01, 2019 on april 3, 1860, the pony express began delivering mail across the overland route to california. Tales of broncho charlie, youngest rider of the pony express.
Russell, waddell and majors designed a system that spanned a number of over one. Stories of the express and the riders are a fun read. Russell advertised for hostlers and riders to work on the overland express route via salt lake city in march 1860. It is one of those great books or movies that are a snapshot of. Join the race from missouri, across the plains and mountains to california and back again as brave pony express riders and their supporters along the route work. The pony express american transportation pioneer william h. Pony express bibliography kansas historical society.