Miscellaneous Photos

Crosses along the Carson Trail near Fort Churchill. The Pony Express route followed existing emigrant trails where it made sense.

Pony Express signage near Fort Churchill State Park, along the Carson River. The Pony Express trail here followed the Carson Emigrant Trail.

Fort Churchill served as an important outpost for Pony Express riders during its short history. The fort was constructed in 1860 in part to protect riders from Paiute Indian ambushes. The Paiute War was a result of encroachment of white settlers onto native lands, with accounts of rape and murder against the Paiute and starvation as their food supplies were taken by settlers.

Remains of the Sand Springs Pony Express Station with Sand Mountain in the background. Sand Mountain is a popular recreation area for OHVs and "sandboarding". It is one of just a few dozen "singing dunes" in the world. Scientists believe the singing is a result of wind running across the fine sand. The Paiute-Shoshone Native Americans believe the singing is Kwansee, an ancient sea serpent who entombed himself below the dunes after his wife died.

Remains of Sand Springs Pony Express Station. Highway 50, the "Loneliest Road in America" passes through the expansive playa of the dried-up Lake Lahontan that covered much of present-day northern Nevada approximately 12,000 years ago.

Sand Springs Pony Express Station and Sand Mountain.

The old overland route through Edwards Valley, passing the remains of Edwards Creek Pony Express Station and old corrals.

Overhead view of Edwards Creek Pony Express Station.

Cold Springs Pony Express Station is extremely well-preserved given its austere location. Interpretive signs take you through the station, with interesting information about the corral, living quarters, kitchen, and gun slits to defend the station.

Gun slits in the Cold Springs Pony Express Station used to protect the station from raiders.

Late evening light raking across the walls of Cold Springs Pony Express Station.

Remains of the Cold Springs Pony Express Station.

Pony Express stations across Nevada have metal markers indicating what the station was and what it was called. "XP" is the abbreviation for Pony Express.

Cold Springs Pony Express Station.

Cold Springs Pony Express Station lies off of Highway 50 on a rugged dirt road. It is often confused, even in research literature, for the Cold Springs Telegraph Station that is directly on Highway 50. The telegraph would replace the Pony Express after only 18 months of the Pony's operation.

The remains of the old Cold Springs Pony Express Station are the earliest remains of westward American expansion in Cold Springs, Nevada. A few miles off US50 on a rugged dirt road, the station is often overlooked and confused with the slightly more recent remains of a telegraph station and overland stage stop on the highway. The Cold Springs Station Resort, seen in the distance, serves travelers and truckers today.

The walls of the Cold Springs Pony Express Station have preserved windows and even the chimney of the fireplace in the kitchen.

Remains of a window in the walls of the Cold Springs Pony Express Station.

Remains of a window in the walls of the Cold Springs Pony Express Station.

The walls of the Cold Springs Pony Express Station have preserved windows and even the chimney of the fireplace in the kitchen.

Remains of the Sand Springs Pony Express Station with Sand Mountain in the background. Sand Mountain is a popular recreation area for OHVs and "sandboarding". It is one of just a few dozen "singing dunes" in the world. Scientists believe the singing is a result of wind running across the fine sand. The Paiute-Shoshone Native Americans believe the singing is Kwansee, an ancient sea serpent who entombed himself below the dunes after his wife died.

Aiden is one of the young riders hoping to carry on the legend of the Pony Express. With rider shortages threatening the re-ride every year, it will be critical to engage young riders like this with the history of the route.