Pony Express Museum of Marysville

Mission

This first home station on the Pony Express route shot forward a communication trajectory from 1859 to the present day.  Our purpose is to tell that exciting story well. 

Profile

Mail service at the speed of a galloping horse was one of the boldest enterprises of the westward expansion of the USA.  The original stone barn still stands where it was built on a street corner in Marysville and receives more than 2000 visitors each year.

We focus on the local history of the Pony Express era, including rail transportation and overland freight.  Our authentic replica of a 19^th -century stagecoach with its horse team is used in community events for parades and coach rides.  A valued exhibit is a full set of dioramas produced by WPA workers in the 1930s to illustrate Kansas history and Native American culture. We also have a large collection of agricultural implements and a replication of a period blacksmith shop in the historic horse barn.

It’s a challenge to preserve the original 1859 stone barn.  Currently the National Park Service is advising the repair of a large structural crack in the west wall.  Fundraising efforts are ongoing to restore and protect a treasured history and to support our educational mission.