Editing Pony Express (section)

==Legacy==

=== Postage stamps ===
In 1869, the United States Post Office issued the first U.S. postage stamp to depict an actual historic event, and the subject chosen was the Pony Express. Until then, only the faces of [[George Washington]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and [[Andrew Jackson]] were found on the face of U.S. postage.<ref>Scotts United States Stamp Catalogue.</ref> Sometimes mistaken for an actual stamp used by the Pony Express, the "Pony Express Stamp" issue was released in 1869 (8 years after the Pony Express service had ended) to honor the men who rode the long and sometimes dangerous journeys and to commemorate the service they provided for the nation. In 1940 and 1960, commemorative stamps were issued for the 80th and 100th anniversaries of the Pony Express, respectively.
{| style="margin:1em auto;"
| [[File:Post Horse & Rider 1869 Issue-2c.jpg|thumb|200px|Pony Express Rider, issue of 1869]]
| [[File:Pony Express 3c 1940 issue.JPG|thumb|275px|Pony Express 80th-anniversary issue of 1940]]
| [[File:Pony Express centennial stamp 4c 1960 issue.jpg|thumb|275px|Pony Express 100th-anniversary issue of 1960]]
|}

===Historical research===
{{more citations needed section|date=April 2022}}
[[File:Pony Express5 St Joseph 1860.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Mail from St. Joseph with a St. Joseph Pony Express postmark along with a city of destination postmark, San Francisco: The envelope also has an issue of 1855, Washington 10-cent postage affixed to it.<ref name="Scotts">Scotts Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps</ref>]]
The foundation of accountable Pony Express history rests in the few tangible areas where records, papers, letters, and mailings have yielded the most historical evidence. Until the 1950s, most of what was known about the short-lived Pony Express was the product of a few accounts, hearsay, and folklore, generally true in their overall aspects, but lacking in verification in many areas for those who wanted to explore the history surrounding the founders, the various riders, and station keepers, or who were interested in stations or forts along the Pony Express route.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

The most complete books on the Pony Express are ''The Story of the Pony Express'' by Raymond and Mary Settle and ''Saddles and Spurs'' by Roy Bloss. Settle's account is unique, as he was the first writer and historical researcher to make use of Pony Express founder William B. Waddell's papers, now in a collection at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. Mr. Settle wrote in the mid-1950s. Mr. Bloss was a writer for the Pony Express Centennial. While Settle's work was published generally without his annotations and notes, the writer's background here is unique and Settle does have an excellent bibliography. When Settle prepared to publish his well-researched account, he had a good volume of footnotes, citations prepared, but the editors chose not to use most of them. Instead, they opted for a less expensive approach to print and publish and released an accurate, but simplified account. Settle was not pleased with this new and sudden development, as he put much time and effort into the annotations. Yet, the account Settle wrote was and is a definitive one and is considered the best account on the history of the Pony Express among many historians.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.anb.org/articles/20/20-01914.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320010743/http://www.anb.org/articles/20/20-01914.html|archive-date=20 March 2012|title=Russell, William Hepburn |encyclopedia=American National Biography |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |access-date=December 10, 2012}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=April 2022}}{{original research inline|date=April 2022}}

=== National Historic Trail ===
{{Infobox protected area|name=Pony Express National Historic Trail|photo=NPS pony-express-trail-map.pdf|photo_caption=Pony Express Trail Map|map=|relief=|map_caption=|location=[[California]], [[Colorado]],<br /> [[Kansas]], [[Missouri]],<br />[[Nebraska]], [[Nevada]],<br />[[Utah]], [[Wyoming]],<br /> [[United States|US]]|nearest_city=|coordinates=|coords_ref=|area=|established=|visitation_num=|visitation_year=|governing_body=[[National Trails System]]|website={{URL|https://www.nps.gov/poex/index.htm}}}}The Pony Express route was designated the Pony Express [[National Historic Trail]] August 3, 1992, by an act of Congress.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-25 |title=Pony Express National Historic Trail |url=https://pnts.org/new/pony-express-national-historic-trail-2/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS) |language=en-US}}</ref> Its route goes through eight states and includes substantial sections of land managed by the [[Bureau of Land Management]] in [[California]], [[Colorado]], [[Nevada]], [[Utah]], and [[Wyoming]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Scenic and Historic Trails |url=https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/national-scenic-and-historic-trails |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Bureau of Land Management |language=en}}</ref>

The public can auto-tour the route, visit interpretive sites and museums, and hike, bike, or horseback ride various trail segments.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-06|title=Programs: National Conservation Lands: National Scenic and Historic Trails: Pony Express National Historic Trail|url=https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/pony-express|access-date=2018-04-12|website=www.blm.gov|language=en}}</ref> Sites open to public visitation along the trail include the [[Sand Mountain Recreation Area]] in Nevada; automobile access to a [[List of Bureau of Land Management Back Country Byways|backcountry byway]] (the Pony Express Trail National Back Country Byway) along the route itself, Boyd Station and Simpson Springs Campground in Utah; and the Little Sandy Crossing in Wyoming. In total, approximately 120 historic sites along the trail may eventually be open to the public, including 50 stations or station ruins.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pony Express National Historic Trail: History and Culture|url=http://www.nps.gov/poex/historyculture/index.htm|access-date=August 31, 2013|publisher=[[National Park Service]]}}</ref>

The [[National Pony Express Association]] is a nonprofit, volunteer-led historical organization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About NPEA |url=https://nationalponyexpress.org/about/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=National Pony Express Association |language=en-US}}</ref> Its purpose is to preserve the original Pony Express trail and to continue the memory and importance of Pony Express in American history in partnership with the [[National Park Service]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pony Express National Historic Trail |title=History & Culture |url=https://www.nps.gov/poex/learn/historyculture/index.htm |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=National Park Service |language=en}}</ref> [[Pony Express Trail Association]], and [[Oregon-California Trails Association]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pony Express National Historic Trail |title=Partners |url=https://www.nps.gov/poex/getinvolved/partners.htm |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=National Park Service |language=en}}</ref>

===Other commemorations===
[[File:Pony-express-statue.jpg|thumb|Pony Express statue in St. Joseph, Missouri]]
From 1866 until 1889, the Pony Express logo was used by stagecoach and freight company [[Wells Fargo]], which provided secure mail service. Wells Fargo used the Pony Express logo for its guard and [[armored car (valuables)|armored-car]] services.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} The logo continued to be used when other companies took over the security business into the 1990s. Since 2001, the Pony Express logo is no longer used for security businesses, since the business has been sold.<ref>
{{cite press release
|url=https://www.wellsfargo.com/press/namerights19990504?year=1999
|title=Wells Fargo Reacquires Name Rights from Borg-Warner
|publisher=Wells Fargo
|date=May 4, 1999
|access-date=December 11, 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060319220503/https://www.wellsfargo.com/press/namerights19990504?year=1999
|archive-date=March 19, 2006
|df=mdy-all
}}</ref>

In June 2006, the [[United States Postal Service]] announced it had [[trademark]]ed "Pony Express" along with "[[Airmail|Air Mail]]".<ref>[http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/2006/pr06_043.htm U.S. Postal Service Expands Licensing Program News Release #06-043] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706172958/http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/2006/pr06_043.htm |date=July 6, 2008}} June 20, 2006</ref><ref>
{{cite book
|title=The United States Postal Service: An American History <!-- |url=http://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/welcome.htm
|url=http://www.warlca.org/documents/postal%20history_pub100.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215123340/http://www.warlca.org/documents/postal%20history_pub100.pdf |archive-date=2018-12-15 |url-status=live -->
|publisher=United States Postal Service
|year=2007
|page=85
}}</ref>
<!--"Pony Express" is also a [[trademarked]] name used by Freight Link international courier services company in Russia; their logo is similar to the one trademarked by United States Postal Service with "Since 1860" written under the image.<ref name="flr" /> [[Freight Link]] international [[Courier (express mail)|courier services]], based in [[Russia]], adopted the Pony Express trademark and a logo similar to that of the USPS.<ref name="flr">
{{cite web
|title=Freight Link Russia
|url=http://www.ponyexpress.ru/index-en.php
|access-date=December 10, 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117021847/http://www.ponyexpress.ru/index-en.php
|archive-date=January 17, 2013
|df=mdy-all
}}</ref>-->

April 3, 2010 was the Pony Express's 150th anniversary. Located in St. Joseph, Missouri, the [[Patee House]] Museum, which was the Pony Express's headquarters, hosted events celebrating the anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pony Express Sesquicentennial Banquet|url=http://www.stjomissouri.net/uploadedFiles/Content/Things_To_Do/Sesquicentennial%20Events%201%2025%2010.pdf|access-date=February 9, 2010|publisher=St. Joseph, Missouri Travel and Tourism}}{{dead link|date=April 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

On April 14, 2015, Google released a playable doodle game celebrating their 155th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://searchengineland.com/when-was-the-first-mail-delivered-via-the-pony-express-google-logo-game-lets-you-ride-your-way-to-the-answer-218528|title=When was the first mail delivered via the Pony Express|date=April 14, 2015}}</ref>