As a horse-crazy kid, you probably discovered the colorful yet quirky story of the real life Pony Express, formed in the spring of 1860 to transport mail by horseback from St. Joseph, Mo. to Sacramento, Calif. Although it only lasted until October of 1861 and never turned a profit for its investors, horse lovers and history buffs are understandably captivated by the tales associated with swift horses, intrepid riders and the rough and ready waystations along the route.
To learn all about the Pony Express you can visit the website for the actual Pony Express museum in St. Joseph at www.ponyexpress.org. Aside from offering tours and educational exhibits, the museum has seasonal activities related to prairie living and the historical horseback mail system.