County of Barn: Marshall County.
Location of Barn: 8th St. & Elm St., Marysville
Built: 1859
Phone: (785) 562-3825
"Marysville’s proud heritage features the Home Station No. 1 on the Pony Express route. Running only 19 months in 1860-61, the Pony Express has become a part of American lore.
"Between April 1860 and October 1861, riders travelled day and night through all conditions to carry letters from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, and back. This usually took ten days with riders changing horses every 12 to 15 miles. Each rider would ride 75 to 100 miles before turning the mail in a mochila over to a new rider at one of the 40 “home stations.”
"Our museum is housed in the stone barn built in 1859 by Joseph H. Cottrell and Hank Williams. In 1860 Russell, Majors & Waddell approached them to lease the barn as a livery stable for the Pony Express. Cottrell kept his blacksmith shop in the barn.
"The first westbound rider left St. Joseph, Missouri on April 3, 1860, arriving in Marysville the next morning. Local sources say this was Johnny Frye.
"The mail was carried in a mochila which fit over the saddle and could not be removed unless the rider dismounted. It had four mail pockets called cantinas that were locked. The rider would transfer the mochila from one horse to another. Two minutes were allowed for changing horses.
"Costs for sending mail was $5.00 per ounce and 5 cents for each additional ounce. The rates were reduced to $1.00 per ounce later.
"The demise of the Pony Express began in 1860 with the completion of the telegraph lines across the continent.
"In 1991, Marysville added a museum to the original barn duplicating its architecture. The museum’s theme has been enlarged to include trails and railroads.
"The National Pony Express Association sponsors a re-ride every year with over 550 riders both male and female making the ride. Each rider takes an oath similar to the original one and is issued a Bible as Russell, Majors and Waddell did to the original riders." ~ MUseums of Marysville
"Enter the only Home Station on the Pony Express route still remaining on the original site. The 1859 barn is built of limestone that was hauled by oxen from south of Marysville. Vent holes for horses are still in the building, where antique wagons, a blacksmith shop, and more are displayed. In the Museum annex, which is also built of limestone, you'll find Pony Express memorabilia and a variety of other items. The mezzanine depicts the beginning of the Pony Express to its demise when the telegraph came into existence. See a replica of an original stagecoach, a mochilla, a popcorn wagon and Marysville's first post office. The annual re-ride of the Pony Express is held during the month of June and travels from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, and vice versa the next year. OPEN mid April-October. HOURS: Mon-Sat 9am-4pm and Sun 12pm-4pm. Group tours available by reservation." ~ Kansas Tourism