Wanted: A Few Good Horses
The term “lightening speed” is certainly relative; what was considered lightening speed in the 1800s can hardly compare to the progress we’ve made today. However, imagine living in a simpler, more rustic time… when travel was always cumbersome and communication across vast lands was painstakingly slow. And then imagine something coming along – say, a horse and man – that changes everything you once knew – practically overnight.
When people moved out west, letters were carried by boat, and it took about six months to send or receive a letter by ship. It was a way to communicate, yes. But as far as efficiency goes, it was obviously far from ideal. So when the Pony Express was imagined to life in 1860, and it only took 10 days across the United States on horseback, imagine how many facets of life were affected by it!
The Pony Express was special because it connected East and West in a manner never done before. For 19 months the Central Overland and California Pikes Peak Express Company carried letters and telegrams through challenging terrain to prove the most central route through Salt Lake was passable year round. That trail is now a federally designated Historic Trail.
2010 marks the 150th Anniversary of inception of the Pony Express. And from June 6th to the 26th, The National Pony Express Association will conduct an anniversary Re-Ride over the 1,966 mile route of the National Historic Trail from California through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas to Missouri. There will be various checkpoints and exchange stops with operators who will radio information to the public. GPS transmitters will also be carried by the riders, which will transmit location to a satellite.
The men and horses of the Pony Express originally set off on their journey from what is now Old Sacramento. You can see the statue at the corner of 2nd and I streets and see artifacts at the Wells Fargo History Museum.
Sometimes, something comes along that changes what we know, how we live and how we think. And sometimes, we have to look back and honor what was to more thoughtfully and deliberately appreciate what is. As for the period of the Pony Express, while it may have been brief, its existence was far from insignificant. After all, it was a simpler but groundbreaking time, and the Pony Express is a symbol of our love affair with the American West.
Come join the kick-off anniversary ride and festivities: Monday, June 7, 10a.m., Old Sacramento. Visit www.xphomestation.com for more up-to-date information and anniversary events across the nation.
There is something special about Sacramento; the rich land upon which she was built, the rivers that flow through her, the bounty around her and the people who make it their home.
Life is good in California’s Capital City for many reasons, including climate and geography, community and amenities, nature and wildlife, and more. It’s hard to imagine a warmer feeling than a sunshine-drenched morning here, an easier feeling than a refreshing spring day, or a more engaging experience than a night on the town after a cleansing rain.
There’s truly something for everyone and every mood, for Sacramento is a shifting entity itself, with four distinct but relatively mild seasons, diverse neighborhoods and people, a ripening food and restaurant scene, year-round events and outdoor fun, and daytime and nighttime adventures. Its magic is a blend of history and tradition, vision and reinvention. And there’s so much pleasure to be had here – with family and friends, food and wine, adventures and experiences – that they’re likely to create the kind of fond memories that might seem so familiar… but aren’t quite like any other.
