The Pony Express rides again as re-enactors begin the 48th annual Pony Express National Re-Ride Monday from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento.
Hundreds of riders will take part, switching off every 10 miles over the next 10 days, with the last rider set to arrive in Old Sacramento on June 25.
The Re-Ride, which will cover nearly 2,000 miles, is a recreation of the traditional route of the Pony Express. The private mail service only lasted 18 months, in the years 1860 and 1861, but it is remembered for the speed of its service, its 24-hour relay of riders, and as the fastest route of communication between the East and West until the intercontinental telegraph.
What is the Pony Express National Re-Ride?
The ride is organized by the National Pony Express Association, which was incorporated in 1978. According to their website, 1980 was the first year the group succeeded in carrying mail over the entire Pony Express route from St. Joseph to Sacramento…