The End of the Trail Trivia Quiz

Answer: St. Joseph

The Pony Express ran for eighteen months from April 3, 1860, to late October 1861. Along the route, there were approximately 157 stations that were ten miles apart. This system gave riders the opportunity to get a fresh horse. Eventually only the mail pouch, or mochila, a water bag, and one revolver was allowed. The total weight on the horse could not surpass 165 pounds. Riders rode day and night and changed every 75-100 miles.

Answer: Fort Kearny

This post on the Pony Express was originally called Ft. Childs when it was built in 1848, however, that same year it was renamed in honor of General Stephen Watts Kearny. In the beginning it really wasn't a fort that was used in defense, but it was an important stop for settlers traveling on the Oregon Trail and prospectors during the California Gold Rush.

It is estimated that as many as 2,000 migrants and 10,000 oxen might pass through in a single day during the busiest time of the trail season. Later, during the Indian Wars in the 1860's, a stockade was built.

Answer: Colorado

The original trading post, Julesburg, was named for Jules Beni, a horse thief. Beni was caught stealing horses from the Pikes Peak Express Company, and was shot and killed by Jack Slade, a man who worked for the company. Julesburg became a large, important way station, and was eventually the site of Ft. Sedgwick.

Answer: Fort Laramie

Fort Laramie was originally founded as a fur trading post in 1834 by William Sublette. It was taken over in 1849 by the U.S. Army in order to protect wagon trains going west. Located at the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers, settlers on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails passed through.

Answer: Independence Rock

Independence Rock is a large granite mound that still bears carvings of names of many settlers who traveled by; it was necessary to be at Independence Rock by July 4 in order to reach westward destinations before the first heavy snowfall. It is located in Central Wyoming.

Answer: Fort Caspar

Fort Caspar was named after Caspar Collins, who was killed at the Battle of Platte Bridge Station in 1865. Many of the native American participants in this conflict were survivors of the Sand Creek Massacre. It was important to protect the settlers from ongoing hostilities with the Cheyenne and Lakota, and eventually the telegraph lines had to be protected as well.

Answer: Great Basin

This had to have been a particularly difficult leg of the journey due to the various terrains and temperatures. Even today, part of the area is crossed by traveling on U.S. Route 50, which in Nevada, is called the "loneliest road in America".

Answer: Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada runs for about seventy miles from east to west. Home to the infamous Donner Pass, the area surely made for some rough travel for early settlers. The California Gold Rush helped open the area more for exploration and travel, however, by 1860 it was still not a piece of cake for the Pony Express riders to cross.

Answer: Tahoe

John C. Fremont and Kit Carson are considered to be the first Europeans to see Lake Tahoe in 1844. It is the largest alpine lake in the U.S., and second in depth to Crater Lake in Oregon. As Jack was traveling through for the Pony Express, he would have seen miners as well as loggers.

Answer: Sacramento

The founders of the Pony Express wanted to have the fastest mail service available. By the end of its eighteen months of operation, the trip from St. Joseph to Sacramento could be made in about ten days. Each rider rode about seventy-five miles a day, and earned approximately $25 a week, a huge sum of money for the time. Eventually the operation was replaced by the telegraph, and besides that, the Pony Express Company never made a profit.

It was time to let go!