Near Hastings in Adams County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Oregon Trail & Pony Express Trail
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2025
1. Oregon Trail & Pony Express Trail Marker
Pony Express
Russell Majors Waddell
Founders Owners Operators
St. Joseph Sacramento
1860-1861
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Oregon Trail, and the Pony Express National Historic Trail series lists.
Location. 40° 28.87′ N, 98° 24.13′ W. Marker is near Hastings, Nebraska, in Adams County. It is at the intersection of American Legion Memorial Highway (U.S. 281) and West Saddlehorn Road, on the right when traveling south on American Legion Memorial Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ayr NE 68925, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Smoky Hills and in Eastern Nebraska. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and on the prairies. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Millington (approx. 1.9 miles away); Crystal Lake (approx. 2.7 miles away); Kingston Cemetery (approx. 3.4 miles away); Oregon Trail (approx. 5½ miles away);
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Oregon Trail (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile eastwest, large-wheeled wagon route and emigrant trail in North America that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon Territory. The eastern part of the Oregon Trail crossed what is now the states of Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. The western half crossed the current states of Idaho and Oregon. The Oregon Trail was laid by fur traders and trappers from about 1811 to 1840 and was initially only passable on foot or horseback.(Submitted on November 3, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Pony Express (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The Pony Express was an American express mail service that used relays of horse-mounted riders between Missouri and California. It was operated by the Central Overland California(Submitted on November 3, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)and Pikes Peak Express Company. During its 18 months of operation beginning in 1860, the Pony Express reduced the time for messages to travel between the east and west US coast to about 10 days. It became the west's most direct means of eastwest communication before the first transcontinental telegraph was established (October 24, 1861), and was vital for tying the new state of California with the rest of the United States.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 20252. Oregon Trail Marker
3. The Oregon National Historic Trail Interactive Map (National Park Service). Trail Sites to Visit in Nebraska (Submitted on November 3, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
4. Pony Express Trail Interactive Map (National Park Service). Trail Sites to Visit in Nebraska (Submitted on November 3, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2025
3. National Pony Express Centennial Association Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2025
4. Oregon Trail & Pony Express Trail Marker
Looking west from US Highway 281; West Saddlehorn Road continues west in the left background.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 103 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 3, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
