1935 – Pony Express Diamond Jubilee
The Diamond Jubilee of the Pony Express was sponsored by the Oregon Trail Memorial Association (OTMA), in cooperation with Boy Scouts of America and local historical associations and communities along the trail. Many celebrations took place between April 3 and October 24, 1935.
The highlight of the Jubilee was the August 8-23 rerun from Sacramento to St. Joseph, in which about 300 Boy Scouts participated. They carried letters addressed to President Franklin D. Roosevelt from Governors and other officials along the trail. Some of the Scouts were descendants of original riders.
OTMA arranged for an army airplane to fly the mail from St. Joseph to Washington, DC.
On August 21 the mail was carried by horseback onto the White House grounds. Dr. Howard Driggs, President of OTMA, and others presented the pouch to the President in a ceremony on the south lawn. Major Arthur Procter served as chairman of OTMA’s Jubilee committee.
They presented President Roosevelt with the organization’s Diamond Jubilee commemorative medal, designed by OTMA’s secretary, William Henry Jackson, the well-known pioneer photographer and artist of the American West.
OTMA sponsored this event as part of its larger, ongoing program to memorialize the Pony Express and to place markers along the route of the trail.
1938 – Celebration of the NV 74th Annual Admission Day Celebration
Each year there is a Nevada Day celebration in honor of Nevada becoming a state on October 31, 1864. For the 1938 celebration Virginia City and it’s merchants went all out and had a number of historic reenactments. The entire town was shut down so that all could attend the festivities in Carson City. Seventy-five Virginia City residents dressed up in traditional costumes. There were Mark Twain and John Piper impersonators. Beside the pony express run. There was also a covered wagon and brougham that made the trip with impersonators of the four Virginia City millionaires, Mackay, Fair, Flood and O’Brien. The pony express ride followed the original route, and it was just one of many events held that year. Provided by Michael P. Maher, Librarian, Nevada Historical Society
Letter Content
From: Museum of Memories, Virginia City, Nevada
Date: Oct 31, 1938
To All Present at the Admission Day Celebration
By Pony Express from historic old Virginia City we send greetings + best wishes. We hope that everyone here will enjoy the day and have lots of wholesome + joyous fun.
To everyone we wish health happiness + prosperity.
Sincerely
Paul Smith
Virginia City
1940 – 80th Anniversary of the Pony Express
A 3-cent red brown stamp issued on April 3, 1940, commemorated the 80th Anniversary of the founding of the Pony Express, a horse and rider mail delivery system.
The stamp shows a Pony Express horse and rider leaving a relay station with a load of mail. Most of these riders were teenage boys who loved the thrill of this challenging assignment. Though short-lived, the Pony Express became one of the enduing legends of the Old West.
A wooden desk pen set with metal plaque featuring portraits of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Postmaster General James A. Farley were sent to various postmasters around the country, to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Pony Express.
1960 – Centennial Celebration
The 1957 Western Governors Conference was the origin of the 1960 Pony Express Centennial Re-ride. Governor Clyde of Utah made the proposal to the eight governors from the Pony Express Trail States of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California.
Another meeting was held in November of 1957 and the National Pony Express Centennial Association originated at this meeting. President Dwight D Eisenhower agreed to be the Honorary Chairman of this Board. Waddell F. smith was elected President. He was also the great grandson of on the founders, William Bradford Waddell.
This committee organized the riders and mounts in the eight states for the reenactment. Riding clubs and other horsemen participated, riding both ways between Sacramento and St. Joseph from July 19 to 28. 1960. So many wanted to rides that each rider was limited to one horse and would only ride from three to five miles. Five hundred riders rode each direction. Patches and Bibles were issued to each rider.
President Eisenhower sent letters in the mochila to each of the governors in the eight trail states. A special commemorative stamp was issued and placed on these envelopes. These stamps carried the date of July 19, 1960, the starting date of the re-ride and had a special cancellation stating Russell, Majors and Waddell as founders, owners and operators.
Commemorative letters and envelopes were designed and carried across the trail much as it is done today. The sale was advertised across America and were sold in advance for $100 each.
By a special act of Congress, the US Mint in Philadelphia made two large official centennial medals, a Founders Medal and a Termination Medal.
One thousand Colt Special Edition Centennial Revolvers were produced. They were numbered from 1-E (east) through 500-E and 1–W (west) through 500-W to match the numbers of the 1,000 riders. They were offered for sale to the re-enactment riders first and the remainder were sold to the public.
The remaining funds were used to memorialize the Pony Express by marking trail sites.
2010 — Sesquicentennial Celebration
The National Pony Express Association celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the Pony Express in 2010 by riding only during the day, taking 20 days to traverse the Pony Express Trail during the Re-Ride. This allowed for many day celebrations to occur and the public to see the Pony during the whole Re-Ride.
April 14, 2010, Smithsonian National Postal Museum. Smithsonian presentation-click here.
More to come……..
America 250th Celebrations
As the United States celebrates America 250, the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence in 2026, communities across the country are reflecting on the people, events, and innovations that shaped the nation’s identity. Organized in part by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, America 250 highlights milestones in civic development, westward expansion, and the enduring pursuit of liberty. One powerful symbol of American determination and ingenuity is the Pony Express, the short-lived but legendary mail service that operated from 1860 to 1861. By relaying messages on horseback across nearly 2,000 miles between St. Joseph and Sacramento, the Pony Express dramatically reduced communication time between the East and West, reinforcing connections across a rapidly expanding nation. Together, America 250 and the legacy of the Pony Express underscore themes of resilience, innovation, and unity that continue to define the American story.
Come celebrate with us!
| Date/Time | Location | Event | Details |
| Mar 19th | Nevada Room – please enter via the west entrance of the building 911 Beverly Drive Carson City, NV |
Mail, Mochilas and Miles. Lecture with the Carson City Historical Society Carson City Contact – Petra Keller | $10 Admission Pony (in Uniform) & CCHS Members free |
| Apr 22nd |
Gothenburg Pony Express Station 510 15th Street Gothenburg, NE | Pony Express Statue Dedication Ceremony | Gothenburg Pony Express Station |
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May 1st and 2nd & 3rd and 10th | Upstairs in The Odeon Saloon 65 Pike Street, Dayton NV |
Dayton Misfits Theater Group Presents- The Pony Expresso or The Villain Came to a Grinding Halt Production Contact – Petra Keller | Dayton Misfits Theater Group |
| May 30th | Dayton MainStreet | America 250 Pony Express re-ride celebration Contact – Petra Keller |  |
| June 5th |
Fort Churchill State Park
10000 US-95 ALT
Silver Springs, NV
| America 250 Pony Express re-ride celebration Contact – Anne Martins | Living history demonstrations to highlight the role of the Pony Express and the importance of communication and transportation in the development of the American West. |
| June 6th & 7th | California Trail Center 1 Interpretive Center Way Elko, NV | The California Trail Center’s annual Trail Days is celebrating the 250th birthday of the USA! Events include a Pony Express Mochila Exchange Demonstration Contact – Andy Boyer | California Trail Days |
| June 12th & 13th | Sidney Gold Rush Days Legion Park, Sidney NE | Frontiersmen, Pony Express presentation, Gold Canyon gun fighters, western music, craftsmen, “Calamity Jane”, Wind River Dancers, etc.! Lots to see and participate in! Contact Cathy Stevens | Sidney Gold Rush Days |
| June 15th | Patee House 1202 Penn Str St Joseph MO |
Annual Re-Ride departs the Patee house First rider departs 3:00 PM | Follow The Ride |
| June 21st | Camp Floyd State Park 69 W Main St Fairfield, UT | Come and Join Camp Floyd State Park from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (estimated time of arrival 4:00 PM) in watching the National Pony Express Association annual Pony Express Trail Re-Ride as the riders pass through Camp Floyd State Park. | Camp Floyd |
| June 24th | Benson’s Feed 2750 US-50, Carson City, NV 89701 |
Come hear Chautauquan Kim Harris as Warren Upson talk about the importance of the Pony Express in keeping the Union together and witness a Mochila exchange Hosted by Carson City Historical Society Contact – Petra Keller |  |
| June 25th | Old Sacramento, CA | Annual Pony Express Re-Ride arrives in Old Sacramento | Follow The Ride |
| June 27th | Presentation and Mochila Exchange Old Echo Church 50 Temple Ln Echo UT | A presentation on Pony Express history and the trail, with horses and mochila exchange | Note: The Historic Echo Church will open at 11am for visitors. The church is hosting a traveling Exhibition “Becoming the United States” (in conjunction with America 250) and a temporary exhibit celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Echo Church this year |
| July 17, 19, 20 & 29th | National Pony Express Joins the American Discovery 250 Relay Across Nevada | In a historic collaboration honoring the United States’ Semiquincentennial, the National Pony Express Association (NPEA) has taken up the reins for a special leg of the coast-to-coast American Discovery 250 Relay. Riding along the iconic Pony Express Trail in Nevada, volunteer equestrians are carrying the official America 250 baton through some of the state’s most rugged and historic landscapes to celebrate 250 years of American spirit and resilience. |
Contact: Petra Keller |