pony express

from 1860 to 1862, the pony express operated as a mail service between san francisco, california, and st. joseph, missouri, with the u.s. postal service carrying the mail east from there. people were captivated by the image of brave riders speeding alone across the landscape, leaping onto fresh horses at every 10-mile station until they had completed their 200 miles. the pony express was fast - it took only eight days to get a letter to san francisco but it was stopped when the first transcontinental telegraph line was completed in 1862.