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The Pony Express Wharf historical marker notes the waterfront arrival location for Pony Express riders who entered San Francisco via steamship or ferry during the last relay leg of the nearly 2,000-mile Pony Express route, a mail transportation route that officially operated from April 3, 1860 - October 26, 1861, between St. Joseph, Missouri, and San Francisco, California. The last relay leg of the predominantly overland route included water transit via river steamship from Sacramento (and later also via ferry boat from Oakland) to "the Pony Express Wharf" in San Francisco. The Pony Express Wharf historical marker is located at the intersection of The Embarcadero and Broadway Streets. It designates the nearby location of the original Pony Express Wharf that once extended east from Broadway and Davis Streets to this location. The historical marker is included within the Pony Express National Historic Trail series. It was sponsored by the Pony Express Trail Association and by private donation from the Hembree Family and others.

Pony Express Wharf historical marker

Pony Express Wharf historical marker

From April 3, 1860 - October 26, 1861, the Pony Express operated via horseback over nearly 2,000 miles between St. Joseph, Missouri, and San Francisco, California. The last westbound relay leg of the Pony Express included dismounted transit via river steamer from Sacramento to San Francisco (and later also via ferry boat from Oakland), with the rider entering San Francisco at what became known as "the Pony Express Wharf." The waterfront site has been commemorated with a historical marker at the intersection between the Embarcadero and Broadway, nearby where the original Pony Express Wharf once extended from Broadway and Davis Streets to this waterfront location.

When the first ever Pony Express rider reached the Pony Express Wharf at 1:00 a.m. on April 14, 1860, he was greeted by cheering crowds, fireworks, and public speeches celebrating his long-awaited arrival. Reaching San Francisco signaled the end of the inaugural journey of the Pony Express, which had begun in St. Joseph, Missouri, just ten days earlier. The Pony Express ran in both directions, westbound and eastbound, between Missouri and California.

In rain, snow, sleet, and hail, Pony Express riders were responsible for carrying mail between the western frontier in Missouri and the Pacific coast of California, including many of the newer communities that had formed after the Gold Rush of 1849. Pony Express riders traveled on horseback over an arduous route of mountains and deserts while riding at full speed. The journey was conducted as a relay in which a single rider handed off a mochilla (Mexican saddlebag) filled with letters to the next rider on the route, with each rider traveling between 60-100 miles, while riding as many as six different horses during each relay leg of the route.

The Pony Express was founded by three men in the stagecoach business (William Russell, Alexander Majors, and William Waddell) who hoped that establishing such a daring enterprise would help their company to win a new government contract for overland transit in the west. However, the Pony Express ultimately operated at a large financial loss to its founders. It was a risky venture, not only financially, but especially for the riders and horses who risked their lives throughout the journey. Yet, the dashing speed of the Pony Express proved to many who had previously doubted that faster communication across the vast nation was indeed possible.

Although the Pony Express operated for less than two years, it was significant in linking the nation together during a tense period before the Civil War when some people believed that California's secession from the Union was imminent. The operation of the Pony Express officially ended in October 1861, only after a system of copper telegraph wires was installed across the western U.S., facilitating nearly instantaneous communication and thus largely replacing the need for the Pony Express. After its official termination in October 1861, mail continued to be carried by Pony Express for several more weeks during November 1861, until every letter had reached its intended destination.

Corbett, Christopher . "The Pony Rides Again (And Again)." American Heritage. April 30, 2010. Accessed November 8th 2019. https://www.americanheritage.com/pony-rides-again-and-again

"Founding of the Pony Express: When the Pony Express Was In Vogue", San Francisco Museum. Accessed November 7th 2019. http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/pxpress.html

"Pony Express National Historic Trail: Long Distance Communication," National Park Service. Accessed November 8th 2019. https://www.nps.gov/poex/index.htm

"Pony Express Steamer Antelope - Sacramento California", Waymarking. Accessed November 8th 2019. https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3PTJ_Pony_Express_Steamer_Antelope_Sacramento_California

Pope, Nancy. "The Story of the Pony Express", Smithsonian National Postal Museum. April 15th 1992. Accessed November 8th 2019. https://postalmuseum.si.edu/research/articles-from-enroute/the-story-of-the-pony-express.html

"Pony Express Wharf", The Historical Marker Database. Accessed November 10th 2019. https://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=63717.

Reuter, Coree. "Receive A Letter In The Mail Today? Thank A Horse!", The Chronicle of the Horse. April 1st 2010. Accessed November 8th 2019. https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/receive-letter-mail-today-thank-horse.

"Russell, Majors and Waddell – Founders of the Pony Express", National Pony Express. Accessed November 10th 2019. https://nationalponyexpress.org/historic-pony-express-trail/founders/.

"When the Pony Express came to San Francisco, it was Party Time", San Francisco Chronicle. Accessed November 10th 2019. https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/When-the-Pony-Express-came-to-SF-it-was-party-11735425.php.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Andrew Ruppenstein at the Historical Marker Database