From Hannibal, MO to Marysville, KS — Pony Express, Jesse James and the Donner party
Today we left Hannibal, Missouri on our journey to Marysville, Kansas. In Marysville, we begin our exploration of the first half of the Oregon trail. On the way there, we passed through Saint Joseph Missouri, where the Pony Express Mail service originated. A few blocks from the first pony express station was the house that Jesse James lived in when he was shot dead.
Our first stop in St. Joseph was the Pony Express National Museum, a location imbued with historical significance. The museum houses a grand tribute to the short-lived but legendary Pony Express mail service. Exhibits brimmed with artifacts, documents, and vivid dioramas that painted a comprehensive picture of these 19th-century mail carriers. It's fascinating that this service only lasted 18 months before being replaced by the telegraph and the westward expansion of the railroad.
Just a few blocks away was the Jesse James Home Museum. This house-turned-museum is famously known as the place where the notorious outlaw Jesse James met his end. It's a stark reminder of the lawless days of the American Frontier, adding a touch of old-world criminal mystique to our journey.
Upon reaching Marysville, the Pony Express Barn & Museum greeted us with a structure steeped in history. This barn was once the first stop for the intrepid Pony Express riders. The riders traveled about 100 miles a day, switching horses every 10–15 miles so they could keep their speed up. At the next station, another rider would continue the journey with the mail.
Next we disconnected the Airstream at the local municipal park in Marysville, which generously offers free stays for travelers. To our delight, the park was equipped with a 50-amp electric hook-up, ensuring we could enjoy the comforts of our Airstream and its two air conditioners. It was 94° at around 3 PM.
From there we took a dirt road to Alcove Springs. Named by the members of the Donner Party, who were forced to camp there in 1846 due to a broken wagon wheel and flooding conditions. They spent five days there. Those five days would've made a difference in avoiding the blizzard in the Sierras and the devastation it meant for their party. This natural spring is an oasis what is a frequent stop of early settler at the very beginning of the journey.
Tomorrow we start on the early part of the Oregon Trail with several sites to see on our way to the Platte river.
