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

Hey Wilderness Images those are some fine images of Pony Express riders of the modern vintage; not exactly the "young skinny fellows" called for in the original advertising asking for riders. I live in St Joseph, Missouri where the Pony Express began (and incidently Jesse James ended). There are museums dedicated to both and there is no doubt that both Jesse and the Pony Express have generated more money after they passed than they ever did while they were alive. I also never knew that the Pony Express had an alternate route that took the riders through Arizona, but what's a little "frolic and detour" if its for a good cause. Thanks for sharing these with us.