The largest pony express station stories of the pony express seem larger than life. The site was listed in the national register of historic places in 1961 and two years later, the kansas historical society was given the responsibility to operate it as hollenberg pony express station historic site. Hollenberg in 1858, to serve travelers on the oregon and california trails, and was used by the pony express when it was established in 1860. The hollenberg pony express station is a way station at the place on the oregon trail where the access trails from the missouri towns of independence and st. Pony express riders and hundreds of pioneers made a stop at historic hollenberg station.
Hollenberg pony express station state historic site hanover, ks. But there was a time when if you needed your message to get there as quickly as possible you enlisted the help of the pony express. They also failed to recognize that russell, if not the other owners of the firm, was a con man and. Discover the stories of the hollenbergs, pioneer life, and the pony express at this national historic landmark. Its purpose is to preserve the original pony express trail and to continue the memory and importance of pony express in american history in partnership with the national park service, pony express trail association, and the oregoncalifornia trails association. Across nevada with the pony express and overland stage line. Gerat hollenberg was a german immigrant who had first crossed the. Pony express station to celebrate 150 years of history. Hollenberg station pony express national historic trail u. The site also offers a picnic area, nature trail, museum, historical markers and monuments. The station is owned by the state of kansas and is operated by the kansas historical society as hollenberg pony express station state historic site. Intending to capitalize on the many wagon trains passing his way on the oregoncalifornia trail, hollenberg s sixroom building initially served as a grocery store, tavern, and an unofficial post office.
Haunted hollenberg station, kansas legends of america. Restaurants near hollenberg pony express station state historic site. The hollenberg pony express station, also known as cottonwood pony express station, is the most intact surviving station of the pony express in the united states. The physical remains of both services are extant on public lands in western utah and are being preserved, interpreted and continually studied. The oregon trail book by rinker buck official publisher.
Historic express mail route delivers nine inspiring romances at. Shiloh museum of ozark history recommended for you. Hollenberg station only one unchanged and on original site. Hollenberg pony express station plan your visit kansas. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site museum day. The relay station is possibly the only unaltered pony express building on an original site. The station was established by the hollenbergs in 1857 to capture trade on the oregoncalifornia trail. Gerat hollenberg was a german immigrant who had first crossed the oregon trail during the 1849 california gold rush.
Hollenberg s station also supplied emigrants with food, clothing, livestock, and a place to rest themselves and their horses. Hollenberg pony express station bibliography as in pony express days. Hollenberg pony express station was a stop on the pony express and a way. Including the hollenberg pony express station, the potts ford bridge, and more. The visitor center has a small but engaging exhibit. Each year the pony express riders of kansas sponsor a scholarship essay contest for seniors graduating from high schools in washington, marshall, nemaha, brown, and doniphan counties in kansas. Pony express womensophia hollenberg and hollenberg station a footnote from history by stephanie grace whitson. Celebrating kansas voices hollenberg pony express station. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site youtube. Hollenberg pony express nature trail kansas alltrails. Including the hollenberg pony express station, the potts ford bridge, and more martin, martha on. Start time is not confirmed please check with division for details.
The pony express stations of utah in historical perspective. More northeast kansas hanover, ks hollenberg pony express. The terrain determined the number and the distance between home stations and relay stations. Pony express station gothenburg 2020 all you need to know.
The station is the only unaltered pony express station still on its original site. Haunted hollenberg station, kansas hollenberg pony express station, kansas in midcentury america, communication between st. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site will be closed the remainder of this afternoon. The hollenberg pony express station, also known as cottonwood pony express station, is the. When the pony express went bankrupt it cost the hollenbergs hundreds of dollars. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site hanover.
Pony express womensophia hollenberg and hollenberg station. Joseph converge before heading west through nebraska and on to oregon. While visiting the hollenberg pony express station near hanover, kansas i learned the pony express operated for only 18 months. The original station house is sparsely furnished but provides a good view into conditions during the midnineteenth century. Hollenberg pony express station in hanover, washington county, kansas. The hollenberg pony express station, located just north of hanover, kan. Gerat and sophia hollenberg, german emigrants, sold food and other supplies, lodging, and draft animals to passing travelers. The hollenberg station became an important hub along the way for pony express travelers and geret hollenberg eventually established a grocery and stage depot on his farm in 1858. The pony express and haunted hollenberg station the pony express was one of the most daring enterprises undertaken in the frontier west. Media in category hollenberg pony express station the following 19 files are in this category, out of 19 total. Discover the story of the westward expansion, american indians, commerce, settlers, trail life, and the pony express.
Hollenberg, this station was also the largest stop along the pony express route. Hollenberg festival, ks national pony express association. Joseph on the fringe of western settlement and gold mining communities of california challenged the bold and made skeptical the timid. Pony express station hollenberg ranch and the pony express begun in 1858, the hollenberg ranch, four miles north and one mile east of here, served as a stop on the oregoncalifornia trail until the late 1860s. Kansas museum of history kansas state capitol constitution hall fort hays grinter place hollenberg pony express station kaw mission and last chance store museums mine creek civil war battlefield pawnee indian museum red rocks, william allen white home partner sites selfguided sites cedar crest first territorial capitol. Hollenberg pony express station grade 4 hanover, ks. Joseph to fort laramie and brief descriptions of pony express riders. Feb 24, 2016 hollenberg pony express station state historic site kansas historical. Come out to hollenberg pony express station state historic site tomorrow morning as riders arrive around 10 a. Pony express station at seneca, originally a hotel kept by john e. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site home. The original station house is sparsely furnished but provides a. Riders didnt have the deadliest job on the pony express.
Our state agency safeguards and shares the states history, touching the lives of kansans every day. The shortlived but highly reliable pony express comes alive in this very readable volume in the westward expansion subseries of the longrunning true book series. Illustration courtesy of pony express stables museum, st. Raymond and mary settle made one of the few serious attempts to write a pony express history. It served as the most westerly pony express station in kansas throughout the duration of that service, 186061. Center door on east hollenberg pony express station, route 243, 6. The hollenberg pony express station is the only pony express station still standing on its original site with its original dimensions intact. May 16, 2010 the historical landmark sign along highway 50 isnt promising bent, faded, defaced with graffiti and most folks drive on by. Listen to the sounds at the station after a summer thunderstorm. The pony express began mail delivery service on the of april, 1860 the pony express was the first fast overland mail service to the pacific coast.
A native of germany, he sailed to the united states in the late 1840s. My husband loves westerns, so when we were driving down the highway and saw the sign to stop at an original pony express station it was a no brainer. At each relay station, riders would exchange their tired horse for a fresh one. The staff said that a book was published that said the station is haunted, but that. Hollenberg pony express station bibliography kansas. Three crossing pony express station illustration 9. A picnic area is located nearby the grove of trees. The hollenberg ranch house was built on cottonwood creek. A trail connects the visitor center and the historic station and features a garden with native plants and grasses. Although the pony express was only in operation for 18 months in 1860 and 1861, it has captured the imagination of generations of people around the world.
Daring riders galloping across the prairie and mountains, changing horses every 1012 miles and riding 75 miles before taking their relief. The hollenberg station is the only unmodified pony express station left. Joseph, missouri, a distance of some 1,966 miles, in a blisteringly fast 10 days, using nothing but horses and riders. Saga of the pony express provides a solid overview but does not consider how the story of the pony express came to be. Today it is a museum which some people believe it is haunted. The station will be open and regular admission applies. Located in about the middle of nebraska, 2 miles off i 80 at gothenburg. Hollenberg pony express station was a stop on the pony express and a way station for travelers on the oregon and california trails. It was initially built in 1857 as a waystation to serve emigrant traffic on the oregon and california trails.
With an outstanding selection, easytouse search tools and descriptive hotel profiles, youll find hollenberg pony express station hotel deals in a wink. Megan, the sites director, gave us a great overview of the buildings and history of the pony express station. Visit the historic building where the hollenbergs hosted travelers on the trail. April 3, 2010 was the pony express 150th anniversary. Hollenberg had lived an adventurous life before he came to kansas territory in 1854. The pony express is one of the most colorful episodes in american history, one which can be used to measure not only the growth of the nation, but the pioneering spirit of our predecessors. The most historic landmark in every state readers digest. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site 2889 23rd rd, hanover, kansas 66945 rated 4. At the pony express festival we had some ham radio operators showing people how the telegraph works. Hollenberg pony express station kansapedia kansas historical. The article includes a brief history of the pony express, an annotated bibliography, a descriptive list of pony express stations, a tabulation of mileages between stations from st. This book had the promise of being a great history book, suitable for educational purposes but for the profanity which became so thick toward the middle i just bailed out. The station served as the last pony express stop in kansas.
After gerat hollenbergs death in 1874, the station became a farm home until 1941 when the kansas legislature purchased the building and the surrounding seven acres. Pages in category pony express stations the following 53 pages are in this category, out of 53 total. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site. After all, someone had to feed those riders and station keepers and the gaggle of other males working as wranglers and blacksmiths and superintendents. The hollenberg farm housed nine boarding rooms, and the success of hollenberg station as a business attracted more people to the area and many settled alongside the hollengbergs in the decade leading up. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site, hanover, ks. Pony express station gothenburg 2020 all you need to. And in kansas, youll find the only surviving pony express stop at the hollenberg station. Five miles northeast of hanover, kansas is the only remaining pony express stop. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site posts.
From 1860 to 1861 it included a pony express station. The first pony express mail traveled by horse and rider relay teams. Theres no record of a woman ever taking part as a rider, but that doesnt mean women didnt play an important role. When was the first mail delivered via pony express. It was in existence for only a short 18 months, but the story of the men who road in this fast relay race, across eight states reflects the true american spirit. A station on the pony express line and seated on the oregon and california trails, the hollenberg station is an interesting stop as you travel kansas. Hollenberg pony express station kansas historical society. American engineering recordhistoric american landscapes survey contains drawings, photos, and data pages of the hollenberg pony express station.
With the pony express, letters could arrive in sacramento, california, from st. William buffalo bill cody pictured became a pony express rider at age 15, and claimed to have arrived at a relay station to find the relief rider dead, whereupon he mounted a fresh horse, rode to the next station, and made the return ride, covering a distance of around 325. Aug 29, 2018 by the time he finally returned to his home station, pony bob had traveled 380 miles in less than 40 hoursa pony express record. During the civil war, it helped preserve the union by providing rapid communication between california and washington, dc. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site kansas historical. Each station was located between 15 to 20 miles apart. The pony express turns 150 this year, spawning museum exhibits. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates. Inside the historic building, not only will you see what a frontier post office looked like, youll. May 17, 2019 pony express station hollenberg ranch and the pony express begun in 1858, the hollenberg ranch, four miles north and one mile east of here, served as a stop on the oregoncalifornia trail until the late 1860s. The transcontinental telegraph and the end of the pony express.
Hollenberg pony express station state historic site museum. You can read more about the pony express in the america s library web site for kids and families. Orbitz makes it easy to find the best hollenberg pony express station hotel deals for your trip. The challenge of learning about the women who were an important part of the supporting cast of the pony express led me to nineteenyearold sophia brockmeyer pictured later in life at right. Women arent often mention in connection with the pony express. The story of the pony express national postal museum. One of the stops on the pony express and a stop along the oregoncalifornia trail. Locations were governed by necessity, not convenience.
The pony express, which only operated from april 1860 until october 1861, was a financial failure for its owners, but some of its riders, such as william buffalo bill cody are the stuff of legend. Gifts and souvenirs related to hollenberg pony express station can be found in the museum store. Exhibits are presented in the historic station, the visitor center, and along the trail at hollenberg pony express station in hanover. The restored ranch and pony express station are maintained by the kansas state historical society, and at the interpretive center there, built near a modern parking lot, i learned about the place. Hollenberg pony express station state historic site, hanover. The demise of the pony express and the overland mail service marked the end of an era in western history. View all restaurants near hollenberg pony express station state historic site on tripadvisor.
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