If you’re my age, you remember sitting down to write a letter and placing it in the mail for delivery. Launching in 1860, the Pony Express sent horse-mounted riders with mailbags to deliver letters from Missouri to California in 10 days.
Eventually, the invention of the telegraph ended the need for the Pony Express, which lasted 18 months from April 1860 to October 1861.
The history of ambitious riders covering challenging terrain around the click continues to fascinate history lovers.I enjoyed learning about the Pony Express at these fascinating Kansas and Missouri museums, and I suspect you will as well.
St. Joseph, Missouri
Patee House Museum
St. Joseph, home to over a dozen museums, is recognized as the site of the original Pony Express. The Patee House Hotel (1202 Penn Street) was its headquarters. On April 3, the Pony Express’s first rider left the station.
Entering the Patee House Museum is like walking into Missouri’s version of the Smithsonian. The historic building’s enormity and contents are awe-inspiring.
Once operated as a four-story luxury hotel opened in 1858, John Patee’s staff hosted travelers in 140 guest rooms. People from all over the world knew of the hotel within three years of its construction.
Artifacts detail the history of the Pony Express, emphasizing transportation and communication, which are the museum’s focus.
Pony Express National Museum
Brave riders raced on horses across unforgiving terrain in unpredictable weather from St. Joseph to Sacramento, California, to deliver mail for the Pony Express. The town was the ideal starting point because it connected via railroads to the east. The Pony Express National Museum (914 Penn Street) exceptionally preserves history and presents it interactively.
A self-guided museum tour reveals the story of the Pony Express and its brave riders through interactive exhibits and curated artifact displays.
Many exhibits are child-friendly zones, appealing to kids and school groups. For example, flip boards, aka Barn Door Trivia, keep all ages engaged in learning in the Hall of Riders, which details 22 famous and lesser-known riders.
The museum offers numerous photo opportunities. Visitors can take photos of authentic saddles or peek through photo cutout stations.
Life-size faux horses are also positioned in the barn’s stables, making the Moment in Time exhibit a picture-worthy experience for all ages.
PRO TIP: Snap a photo of the Pony Express Monument near the visitor’s center.
Marysville, Kansas
Located near the Big Blue River, Marysville was established before Kansas became a state. In 1852, it served as a trading post for Francis J. (Frank) Marshall. Eventually, Marshall opened a post office and named the town after his wife, Mary. The town eventually became the first home station of the Pony Express route west of St. Joseph, Missouri.
Pony Express Barn & Museum
Naturally, your next stop should be the Pony Express Barn & Museum (106 S. 8th St.), the Original Pony Express Home Station No. 1 dating back to 1859. A native limestone building, it is nestled next to the barn that once served as a livery stable.
You’re transported back in time as you walk into the museum’s doors. I was warmly greeted by a volunteer who offered to give me a personalized tour of the grounds after I watched a 14-minute introductory video about Pony Express history.
As he led me from artifact stations to dioramas depicting Native American tribes who once resided in the area, I became increasingly impressed with the museum exhibits. Considering how difficult it is to curate items from the Pony Express era, the museum reflects the year in history well.
Hands-on activity stations, designed for visiting children and groups of touring school kids, include animal pelts, sun-bleached bones, and cowboy apparel. Massive stagecoaches and farm equipment sit nearby, but once you venture into the original barn, it becomes clear how primitive life on The Great Plains was in the late 1800s.
PRO TIP: Mail a letter from the Marysville Post Office (109 S. 9th). The first of its kind in Kansas, the interior resembles a typical post office, but it’s what’s outside that fascinates history seekers.
Seneca, Kansas
Pony Express Museum
When in Seneca, you must experience one of its most historic treasures, the Pony Express Museum (4th and Main Street).
A relic of the Wild West, the museum covers the story of the town’s role as a stop on the Pony Express mail delivery trail in the late 1800s. Seneca claims the Smith Hotel was the first home station.
As you walk upon the building’s original wood floors, explore a makeshift saloon, replica schoolroom, and original artifacts for the Smith Hotel, a refuge for riders needing a break.
Don’t leave without learning the fascinating history of westbound rider, Johnny Frey. I appreciated reading about how local women fed him baked goods. Since he was in a hurry, they added a hole to each one so he could hold the food easily while riding his horse. Perhaps it was the invention of the donut?
The museum is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, Tuesday through Saturdays. To guaranteed a tour, call (785) 294-6655 to schedule an appointment.
PRO TIP: Witness reenactment rides occur once a year between Sacramento, California, and St. Joseph, Missouri, every June.
If it wasn’t for the brave riders who delivered mail in all types of weather around the clock for the Pony Express, society wouldn’t have experienced new innovations to replace it including faster communication via the telegraph. Today, we send messages in seconds via text and email.
Thanks, Pony Express.
If you’re interested in more things to see and do in these charming historic towns, consider my suggested overnight itineraries for St. Joseph, Marysville, and Seneca.
As a first-time visitor, I was impressed by how the town has evolved since its days as the last stop for pioneers heading West. For a location considered the place to go in 1861, it’s maintained its visit-worthy status as a Midwest travel destination.
Entering into the Patee House Museum is like walking into Missouri’s version of the Smithsonian. The historic building’s enormity and contents are awe-inspiring.
I suspect you’ll find the U.S. provost marshall’s office, a wagonmaster’s blacksmith shop, and restored cars outside a 1920 replica service station fascinating. A self-guided tour of the first railway mail car and a ride on the Wild Thing Carousel is a must.
Not only is the three-room home historically accurate, but its glass cases house artifacts from Jesse’s grave recovered when they exhumed his body in the 1990s. DNA evidence proves with 99.7% accuracy that he was shot in the home.
Open Monday through Saturday from April through October; the Jesse James Home takes about 30 minutes to tour if you read the signage and ask questions of the museum’s host.
PRO TIP: Ask to see a replica skull that debunks the myth the gunshot that killed James exited his head, although a hole in the home’s wallpapered wall may prove otherwise.
PRO TIP: 
Wood floors creak under each step as you choose a seat at a student desk for the day’s lesson. An authentic pot-bellied stove, slate boards, and presidential portraits create a historically accurate setting.
Push button interactive stations play videos of his life story and CBS News broadcast clips, including Vietnam’s coverage during the war.
Various exhibits chronicle moments in Cronkite’s career history, including NASA’s landing on the moon, JFK’s assassination, and coverage of 16 Republican National Convention events. The “We Came In Peace” Saturn V Sculpture and Cronkite’s original newsroom desk make an impression.
The restaurant is decorated with draped beads on chandeliers and rope lights around interior columns. A taxidermy alligator on an upper shelf rests under neon signage.
The Blackened Salmon arrived heavily-seasoned for dinner, although slightly overcooked, so I requested a white cream sauce to drizzle on top of it. The signature Boudreaux Potatoes were cubed and boiled potatoes served in savory vegetable broth.
PRO TIP: Plan to save room for dessert. My only regret was not ordering dessert, which unfortunately did not include New Orleans-style beignets, but it did feature Bourbon Pecan Pie and Turtle Cheesecake.
A London Fog hot tea and layered pastry filled with Nutella curbed my cravings. Although the courtyard patio was inviting, I chose to sit inside while it rained outdoors. Chatting with employees about their love of the town’s art scene only confirmed my appreciation of St. Joseph.
PRO TIP: J
I selected a River Cream Ale, an approachable light beer from over 12 craft beers. It went down easy as I observed families gathering and couples arriving for date night entertainment.
Upon arrival, classical music played in the home’s foray, where a hand-carved wooden staircase led my eye upstairs to a row of stained glass windows. Opulent crystal chandeliers and tiled fireplace mantels adorned each room on the main floors. Period furniture, artwork, and a bust of Shakespeare completed the Queen Anne-style home’s interior.
I stayed in the 
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