Ogallala in Keith County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Pony Express

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 9, 2011

1. The Pony Express Marker

Inscription. The Pony Express operated for only eighteen months, from April 1860 until October, 1861, delivering mail between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California. It ceased operating when the transcontinental telegraph line was completed. During its brief existence, the Pony Express helped connect the rest of the nation with the distant West Coast, carrying news about the war clouds gathering between North and South and the election of President Abraham Lincoln.

The Pony Express route spanned some 1,823 miles, with stations located twelve to fifteen miles apart. In Nebraska the route mostly followed the Oregon Trail of the 1840s along the Little Blue, Platte, South Platte, and North Platte Rivers. Three Pony Express stations were established near present-day Ogallala: Alkali Lake, Gill’s (also called Sand Hill), and Diamond Springs.

Sand Hill Station, also called Gill’s Station, was of sod construction and was across the river from Ogallala. In 1865, Frank Young found it occupied by soldiers and it looked “as comfortless as a Siberian picture in a story-book.”

Erected by Ogallala/Keith County Chamber of

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Commerce. (Marker Number 4.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Pony Express National Historic Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1860.

Location. 41° 7.548′ N, 101° 43.178′ W. Marker is in Ogallala, Nebraska, in Keith County. It is on North Spruce Street near West Second Street. This marker is located on the northwest corner of North Spruce Street and West Second Street in Ogallala, NE. It is marker no. 4 of the Historic Walk of Fame. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 210 North Spruce Street, Ogallala NE 69153, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Nebraska. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

on the Great Plains,

and specifically on the High Plains.

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

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 9, 2011

2. The Pony Express Marker

other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Highways 26 and 92 (within shouting distance of this marker); California Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Standard Oil Gas Station (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mormon Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); The Union Pacific (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); End of the Texas Trail (about 400 feet away); The Great Platte River Road (about 400 feet away); Interstate 80 (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ogallala.

Also see . . . Pony Express - Wikipedia. (Submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Additional keywords. Pony Express

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,688 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.