The Pony Express was a short-lived private mail delivery venture ran from 1860 to 1861. Riders carried mail from Missouri to California and back.

White metal, 32 mm, 10.87 gm
Obverse:
OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL ASS'N.
PONY EXPRESS DIAMOND JUBILEE
1860 1935
Reverse:
CHANGING PONIES
RELAY STATION
WHITEHEAD & HOAG (Manufacturer)

Brass, 38 mm, 16.93 gm
Obverse:
Man riding pony to the left
NATIONAL PONY EXPRESS CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION
1860-1960
Reverse:
Heads of three men facing half-right
RUSSELL MAJORS WADDELL
FOUNDERS
UNITED STATES COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL

Usually the Pony Express route ended in Sacramento California where the mail was transferred to boats headed to San Francisco. However the agency had a land route between Sacramento and San Francisco which was used around 20 times when the riders missed the boat in Sacramento. The land route went through Benicia, via water ferry to Martinez, then through Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, and to Oakland where another ferry took the mail to San Francisco. The towns of Lafayette and Orinda are very proud of their connection to the Pony Express and have installed markers commemorating the service.

IN SEARCH OF THE PONY EXPRESS STATION MARKER
DEDICATED APRIL 23, 1998
LAFAYETTE HOUSE
ADDED STATION
APR. 23, 1860 - SEP. 8, 1861
BY
DIABLO FOODS
BETTER HOMES REALTY - LAFAYETTE
DIAMOND K SUPPLY, LTD.
LAFAYETTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
LAFAYETTE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PONY EXPRESS TRAIL ASSOCIATION

This plaque is located in downtown San Francisco and was placed during the 1960-1961 centennial of the Pony Express.

National Pony Express Centennial Association
Dwight D. Eisenhower, Chairman