Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

The Pony Express is alive and well here in the Apache Junction Area.

Although the actual Pony Express only lasted for a year, the re-creations of their run still resound around Arizona and the SHA (Superstition Horsemen's Association) pay tribute to those brave riders each year by making a mail run through the streets, back roads and trails of our town.

Mayor Chip Wilson and his horse ran the first leg by picking up the mail sacks at the City Hall at 10:00am and handing them off to the next rider at the Shopping Center. This was repeated with different riders for all 26 legs of the mail run, and finishing at the Hitching Post Saloon on the famed Apache Trail. The mail bag and its contents were then delivered to the US Post Office for delivery to the recipients with the cancellation stamped on the back.

A special post card was printed up from a picture taken at a previous run at the Rodeo Grounds that I had made up the previous year. The post cards were sold for $5.00 and the profits from the sales ($1,000) were donated to the local Children's Fund.

The pictures show a typical handoff at the Superstition Mountain Museum and again at the Goldfield Ghost Town. Shore don't get boring round here.

Jack Olson's Images in the Wilderness

The Handoff at the Superstition Mountain Museum

(Download)

Following the Handoff at the Goldfield Ghost Town

(Download)

Panorama of some of the 28 riders participating in the Mail Run

(Download)

Example of the $5.00 Post Card

(Download)

Harry02 Loc: Gardena, CA

They had a short but interesting history.
Killed by Wells Fargo, btw.

Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

Yeah Harry 02, we know what happened. Great bit of history while it lasted though.

Jack Olson

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Outstanding.

bnsf

This probably faster than what the USPS ( United States Postal Service) can do today. Takes them 4 days to move a 1st class letter across town with there modern equipment. Maybe they should go back to this way of moving mail!

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

You tell an excellent photography story, well done!

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Excellent series Jack.

Don

Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

I hear ya bnsf, don't know what costs more, horse feed or gas.

Jack Olson

Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

Thanks RickL, glad you liked them.

Jack Olson

Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

Thanks Don.

Jack Olson

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Sharp and colorful narrative series? Well done.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Great set of images. Like the action and the way you captured it.. How long was your "mail route" from beginning to end? Horses are pretty good at endurance but not at the speeds that the Pony Express rode.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

tcthome Loc: NJ