The Storied History of the United States Postal Service

1860: Pony Express
Launched as a new way to expedite west coast bound mail, the Pony Express was a vast improvement over the old route, which required a boat that sailed to Panama, a quick overland passage and then a trip northward on another boat to California. The first Pony Express journey left St. Joseph Missouri and completed the 2,000-mile journey about ten days later, arriving in Sacramento, California with their first parcel. This engraving shows the arrival of a pony express courier to a post in the Rocky Mountains. The Express stations were built roughly 10 miles apart so as the horse began to fade, the ride could trade it out for a fresh one.

• Because of Cost Cutting 1 in 10 Post Offices May Be Licked