Pioneer: 2010 Vol.57 No.2

perhaps, of urgency. The image of a young and fearless
rider on a good horse, racing across plain and mountain
in defiance of weather, hostile Indians, and difficult terrain,
conquering time and distance to help bind together
a fragile nation has captured and held the imagination of
all lovers of our western history. We can’t help but revere
the ideals of youth, courage, and indomitable spirit that
this image suggests. The story of the Pony Express is so
compelling because it was the last medium of communication
based upon flesh and blood, and hence the last to
which we can personally relate. From the time of the telegraph
up until this day, an increasingly rapid cascade of
technological advances has ensued. For these reasons and
surely many more, we continue to love the Pony Express.
In the year 2010 we celebrate the 150th anniversary of
the beginning of that historic endeavor. It is easy to believe
that in 50 and 100 more years, the enduring love of
the romance and excitement of our western history will
inspire people to pause and look back and to honor the
riders, the station keepers, the horses, and all who lent a
hand to the success of the historic Pony Express.
For information on the Pony Express 150th Anniversary
Events, contact Pat Hearty, 801-280-1150, or email at
Hearty.Patrick@dol.gov.
Pony Express reenactment photos by German film crew photographers
Timo Seidel and Brian McLatchy, courtesy the author.
Pony Express map (pp. 5–8), courtesy Library of Congress.
Simpson Springs in Tooele County, Utah was
named after explorer Captain James H. Simpson, a Camp Floyd
topographical engineer. In 1858, while laying out an overland mail route between
Salt Lake City and California, Simpson stopped here due to its excellent water source. Later
used by the Pony Express and the Overland Stage, Simpson Springs was one of the most
prominent stations in
the West Desert.
2010 Vol. 57, No.2 PIONEER 11
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