The Pony Express may have had a short life but it remains one of the greatest examples of American inventiveness when it comes to westward expansion. The Pony Express route was first established in 1860. It spanned a whopping 1,800 miles and stretched from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. Horseback riders carrying urgent mail could accomplish the entire route in just 10 days. Not too bad for the old days! The fast pace of the route required riders to change horses every 15 miles or so. Therefore, over 150 Pony Express stations were built across the country to make fast travel across the route possible. Many of these history-changing stations were located in Nevada, and you can still see a few of them to this day.
Today, many of the original Pony Express stations have been completely destroyed as they've succumbed to the effects of time. However, there is one station that has remained incredibly well-preserved and it's so worth taking the trip all the way out to the desert for.
The ruins of the Sand Springs Pony Express Station are located just south of Sand Mountain Recreation Area. To get there from Fallon you'll head east on US-50 approximately 25 miles. There were roughly 30 of these incredible stations situated throughout Nevada but this one remains the most in tact.
The Pony Express was a brilliant idea at the time but it lasted just a year and half. With the invention of the telgraph in 1861, this famous route was considered obsolete. Although the Pony Express didn't last very long, it will always remain an important piece of Nevada folklore and seeing an actual station with your own eyes is an unparalleled experience.
The Sand Springs Station was actually forgotten about for some time after the Pony Express officially shut down. Drifting sand from the nearby dunes buried the station for more than a century. It wasn't until the late 1970s that a team of archaeologists excavated this historic structure and stabilized the walls.
Being here and seeing the station with your own eyes is simply extraordinary. You can imagine how isolated and dismal the station might've felt to riders back in 1860. Alcohol was banned at the stations but, funnily enough, archaeologists noted that fragments of liquor bottles were among the most common things found during excavation of the site.
You'll note that a small depression can be found in the ground next to the station which may have served as a hand-dug well for the station's manager and riders. It's hard to believe that somebody actually had man this station by themselves, with nothing but the subtle sounds of the desert to keep them company.
This Pony Express station serves as a reminder not just of America's inventiveness but of the rugged nature of the Old West, as well. Experience it for yourself when you visit these isolated remains. Trust us. It's so worth the trip.
Did you know these only Pony Express Station ruins were hiding in the desert? These ruins are such a neat reminder of some of America’s greatest problem solving. For more places like this, check out these 6 Trails In Nevada That Lead You To Extraordinary Ruins.
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