Traveling Through Nebraska's Pony Express Route
The Pony Express Route, which spans over 1900 miles from Missouri to California, plays a pivotal role in the history of Nebraska. Established in 1860, the route spanned 485 miles across Nebraska, primarily traversing through present-day Lancaster, Gage, and Nemaha counties, crossing the Little Blue, Blue, and South Platte rivers. Key stations along the Nebraska stretch, such as Willow Island Station, Julesburg, Big Sandy Station, and a Sand Creek Station were strategically established, demonstrating the human endurance required to navigate such terrain.
Upon reaching Julesburg, riders turned northwest, going onto what would be the Colorado border. They ultimately terminated this stretch upon arriving at the station called 99 Dugout which in contemporary history sits at Dan Yerardi Memorial Park, located just outside of the City of Julesburg, on the beautiful Deuel County Julesburg Colorado border. The well documented fact of two Juleburg stations is known because when the 1862 flooding shifted the South Platte River at this particular stop-over a forced transfer situation necessitated its relocation necessitating an immediate emergency rebuild.
Most research regarding the Pony Express focuses on the rider aspect rather than detailing what and how supply and operation functions existed that also bore the very real hardships. Throughout various historical accounts much attention has centered on human aspects (i.e. who carried mail) but still, there remains very little detailed accounts defining the day-to-day occurrences at all locations. Maintaining a detailed accounting of food supply and various service tasks of employed handlers required sending back an untold level of important logistical activities that allowed route stops like them to be resupplied.
Operation of such a massive undertaking ultimately came under the management of American Express Company and Wells Fargo with some key individuals the likes of William Hepburn Russell and Alexander Majors establishing partnership agreements formally starting in 1860 providing to the workers uniforms, horses and various equipment and equipment needs for continuous functioning. Upon the trans-continental telegraph arrival in 1861 this immediately spelled doom for riders whose employment consisted solely of acting as message carriers and such massive undertaking effectively terminated following.
Only ten months after the start date even though not profitable, the company realized over $180,000 which translates to over $5 million dollars during 2020 which by today's standards could be called an impressive feat indeed upon liquidation leaving several abandoned but once fully operational supply channels to once again become open ranges which now fall under today modern state parks designation located throughout an area known today as the Cornhusker state.
Among other lesser known stations is the often-forgotten Camp Clarke also known as Old Jules, North Platte that no longer has active remains but did begin serving as part of this heavily-used Express route providing as a second strategic checkpoint into Nebraska. These stations would go on to secure a proud place within the storied historical lore that exists not within traveling solely through Nebraska, but are also used in detailed planning that ultimately spans vast American territory for travel between the original west-bound lines and other connecting passage locations during later time periods.
Not all stations that offer now readily found physical remains, or present visual confirmations were once employed Pony Express areas of usage - this would be a great misnomer. Careful study, thorough analysis, archaeological research and site investigation are all research tools used to lend deep insights, knowledge in its broad, historical, and at times, surprising truth. What we find when working through original Pony Express postal records found that what originally lay many times without any remaining signs of operation resulted in physical remains now existing on historic monuments through very hard unending work of researchers fully equipped with knowledge but lacking, for a number of years vital archaeological investigation input.
Today the location of an expansive but somewhat secretive but non-profit support entity dedicated to serious preservation efforts focused on what remains 100 years later of original working thoroughfares in addition to many old working cross connections does still remain active.
Upon reaching Julesburg, riders turned northwest, going onto what would be the Colorado border. They ultimately terminated this stretch upon arriving at the station called 99 Dugout which in contemporary history sits at Dan Yerardi Memorial Park, located just outside of the City of Julesburg, on the beautiful Deuel County Julesburg Colorado border. The well documented fact of two Juleburg stations is known because when the 1862 flooding shifted the South Platte River at this particular stop-over a forced transfer situation necessitated its relocation necessitating an immediate emergency rebuild.
Most research regarding the Pony Express focuses on the rider aspect rather than detailing what and how supply and operation functions existed that also bore the very real hardships. Throughout various historical accounts much attention has centered on human aspects (i.e. who carried mail) but still, there remains very little detailed accounts defining the day-to-day occurrences at all locations. Maintaining a detailed accounting of food supply and various service tasks of employed handlers required sending back an untold level of important logistical activities that allowed route stops like them to be resupplied.
Operation of such a massive undertaking ultimately came under the management of American Express Company and Wells Fargo with some key individuals the likes of William Hepburn Russell and Alexander Majors establishing partnership agreements formally starting in 1860 providing to the workers uniforms, horses and various equipment and equipment needs for continuous functioning. Upon the trans-continental telegraph arrival in 1861 this immediately spelled doom for riders whose employment consisted solely of acting as message carriers and such massive undertaking effectively terminated following.
Only ten months after the start date even though not profitable, the company realized over $180,000 which translates to over $5 million dollars during 2020 which by today's standards could be called an impressive feat indeed upon liquidation leaving several abandoned but once fully operational supply channels to once again become open ranges which now fall under today modern state parks designation located throughout an area known today as the Cornhusker state.
Among other lesser known stations is the often-forgotten Camp Clarke also known as Old Jules, North Platte that no longer has active remains but did begin serving as part of this heavily-used Express route providing as a second strategic checkpoint into Nebraska. These stations would go on to secure a proud place within the storied historical lore that exists not within traveling solely through Nebraska, but are also used in detailed planning that ultimately spans vast American territory for travel between the original west-bound lines and other connecting passage locations during later time periods.
Not all stations that offer now readily found physical remains, or present visual confirmations were once employed Pony Express areas of usage - this would be a great misnomer. Careful study, thorough analysis, archaeological research and site investigation are all research tools used to lend deep insights, knowledge in its broad, historical, and at times, surprising truth. What we find when working through original Pony Express postal records found that what originally lay many times without any remaining signs of operation resulted in physical remains now existing on historic monuments through very hard unending work of researchers fully equipped with knowledge but lacking, for a number of years vital archaeological investigation input.
Today the location of an expansive but somewhat secretive but non-profit support entity dedicated to serious preservation efforts focused on what remains 100 years later of original working thoroughfares in addition to many old working cross connections does still remain active.
