(KNZA)--The annual Pony Express Re-Ride will travel through Kansas Monday, June 15, and Tuesday, June 16, with riders retracing portions of the original trail in a tribute to the routes and riders that helped shape the nation ahead of the U.S. semiquincentennial.
Organizers say the re-ride will cross northeastern Kansas through communities that once served as key links in the Pony Express system. Featured stops include Horton, the Seneca Pony Express Museum, the Marysville Pony Express Museum, and the Hollenberg Pony Express Station near Hanover, described as the only original Pony Express station still standing on its original foundation.
Kansas route highlights include a handoff in Elwood near the St. Joe Bridge Monday afternoon around 3:30, followed by a stop in Horton Monday night around 8:45. Riders are expected in Seneca early Tuesday morning around 2:30, then in Marysville Tuesday morning around 9:15, with the Hollenberg Station stop Tuesday morning around 11:30. A handoff at the Nebraska-Kansas state line is scheduled Tuesday afternoon around 12:30.
The Pony Express operated for only about 18 months, but organizers say it demonstrated rapid, reliable communication across long distances, helping connect the country during a pivotal period. They say the re-ride is carried out by volunteers in a continuous relay, day and night, passing a mochila along the historic route.
