California Pony Express Stations

California’s gold was very important to the Union, so communication with the state was critical to keep it from seceding, along with the southern states. The Pony Express helped to keep California in the Union by delivering President Lincoln’s March 4, 1861 inaugural address in 7 days, 17 hours.

California has 24 pony express stations over 87 miles of Pony Express Trail.

California Station List

Stations, East to West

1. Woodford’s    (used only during April 1860)
2. Fountain Place
3. Yank’s / Myers / Meyers
4. Hope Valley / Sorenson’s
5. Phillips
6. Strawberry / Strawberry Valley House   (FYI:  It is reported that Mr. Berry, the station operator, fed the stock straw—but charged for hay!—or, maybe there were, indeed strawberries to be found growing in the area.)
7. Split Rock
8. Webster’s / Sugarloaf House / Silverfork
9. Moss / Moore’s / Riverton / Mess
10. Pacific House
11. (H) Sportsman’s Hall / Twelve Mile
12. Placerville / Hangtown / Old Dry Diggins / Ravine City   (FYI:  During the first several months, a “southern” route, using stations 13-15, was followed to Five Mile House; later, a “northern” route that used stations 16-18 was used.)    On July 1, 1861, Placerville became the Western Terminus.
13. El Dorado / Mud Springs / Nevada House
14. Mormon / Mormon Tavern / Sunrise House
15. Fifteen Mile House
16. Diamond Springs
17. Durco / Duroc House / Pleasant Grove / Pleasant Grove House / Shingle Springs
18. Folsom  (On July 1, 1860, Folsom became the Western Terminus)
19. Five Mile / Five Mile House / Mills
20. (H) Old Sacramento: B.F. Hastings Building – “Western Terminus”
21. Water Route:  Sacramento to San Francisco via the American River on a steamboat or, if they missed the boat, overland from Sacramento:
    1. Benicia / Benica
    2. Martinez
    3. Oakland
    4. San Francisco – Western Headquarters

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Legend

• (H) = Home Station  (some of these changed over time, as needed)
• Bold = Station Name on the original U.S. Senate Executive Document, 46^th Congress, 3^rd Session, I, No. 21 p.7-8 “Contract with Overland Mail Co” “Route 10773”
• Italics = Station Name listed on the 2010 Map prepared by the National Pony Express Association and produced and printed by the National Parks Service to celebrate the Pony Express Sesquicentennial.