Chinatown in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Pony Express

Photographed by Harold Colson, June 29, 2015

1. Pony Express Marker

Inscription. The first Pony Express rider to reach San Francisco on the final relay carrying mail from St. Joseph, Missouri to California, arrived in this city Apr. 14, 1860 aboard the River Str. ‘Antelope’. Led by a band and several engine companies, a concourse of citizens escorted the rider, mounted on his gayly decorated pony, to the office of the Alta California Telegraph Company, headquarters of the Pony Express, which stood on this spot. The Pony Express in operation from Apr. 3, 1860 to Oct, 26, 1861.

Erected 1936 by Oregon Trail Memorial Association and Native Sons of the Golden West.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West, and the Pony Express National Historic Trail series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is April 14, 1860.

Location. 37° 47.68′ N, 122° 24.219′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Chinatown. It is at the intersection of Clay Street and Montgomery Street on Clay Street. These markers are located on the Clay Street side of the building (tenant: HSBC) at 601 Montgomery Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Clay Street, San Francisco CA 94111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Former Site of Eureka Lodgings (within shouting distance of this marker); Western Headquarters of Russell, Majors, and Waddell (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of First U.S. Branch Mint (within shouting distance of this marker); Commander John B. Montgomery's Landing Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Bank of Italy (within shouting distance of this marker); Hudson's Bay Company (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Family" (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Montgomery Block (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. "Antelope" Marker placed in Sacramento, California

Also see . . .
1. When the Pony Express was in Vogue - Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco. "Each day, except Sunday, a messenger left St. Joseph at noon, another coming east from Sacramento at eight o'clock in the morning. For two years this service was maintained, through good weather and bad." (Submitted on August 17, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

2. The History of Mail, Part One. Nine minute YouTube video.

Excerpt from the narration:

This is the historical marker for the Pony Express, located here in San Francisco, California. From April 1860 to Oct 1861, young fearless horseback riders carried the mail in swift relay teams from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. On March 4, 1861, the company’s riders set their fastest time delivering Lincoln’s inaugural address to San Francisco by traveling over 1900 rough and dangerous miles in less than eight days. Although ultimately short-lived and unprofitable, the Pony Express captivated America’s imagination. It contributed to the economy of the towns on its route and served the mail-service needs of the American West in the days before the telegraph or a reliable transcontinental railroad.

(Submitted on August 8, 2020.)

Pony Express image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 10, 2012

3. Pony Express

[Map of Pony Express route]
These plaques placed on the site of the western business headquarters, April 3, 1963, by the Society of California Pioneers. 1860-1861
1960-1961 National Pony Express Centennial Association
Dwight D. Eisenhower – Chairman
Waddell F. Smith – President

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 10, 2012

4. Pony Express

Russell - Majors – Waddell
Founders and Operators
April 1860 – March 1861
Overland Mail Co.
(Wells Fargo – National – Adams – American)
Controllers and Operators
[Russell, Majors & Waddell
subcontractors east of Salt Lake City]
March 2, 1861 to October 26, 1861

Coast to coast clipper ship 90 days - Via Panama 30 days - Vanderbilt via Nicaragua 25 days - Overland Mail Stage 23 days - Pony Express 10-13 days

Long rides: “Pony Bob” Haslam, 380 miles - Wm. F. Cody, 384 miles. Young riders: David Jay – 14yrs. Kansas 1860 - Wm. F. Cody – 14 yrs. Wyoming 1861

190 stations, 120 riders, 1966 miles, record time 7 days 17 hours with President Lincoln’s Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861
Operated nineteen months

The Pony Express image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 10, 2012

5. The Pony Express

Russell Majors Waddell
Founders Owners Operators 120 celebrated riders rode 650,000 miles with only one rider killed by Indians, one schedule not completed and one mail pouch lost. 1860-1861
1960-1961 [Map of Pony Express Route]
Presented by
National Pony Express Centennial Assn.
Dwight D. Eisenhower – Chairman
Waddell F. Smith – President
Swerrill Halbert – Vice Pres.
James H. Phillips – Director

Pony Express Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 10, 2012

6. Pony Express Plaque

1860-61 - National Pony Express Centennial Association - 1960-1961 Russell Majors Waddell Founders Owners Operators Pony Express

Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,852 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on March 15, 2025. Photos: 1. submitted on July 2, 2015, by Harold Colson of San Diego, California. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 17, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.