On April 3, 1860, the Pony Express began. Riders and their mail left St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California simultaneously. On April 13, the westbound rider completed the approximately 1,800-mile journey and arrived in Sacramento. This set a new standard for speed of mail delivery. However, with the advent of the first transcontinental telegraph line in October 1861, the Pony Express ceased operations. Although ultimately short-lived and unprofitable, the Pony Express captivated America’s imagination.
