Pony Express Station

Of the nearly hundred relay stations the Pony Express strung across the country in 1860, this small adobe building — Traveler's Rest — was the first one south of Salt Lake City, where riders swapped tired horses and found food or repairs. The line ran only eighteen months; the telegraph made it obsolete by October 1861. This monument has done some traveling of its own. The original stood on State Street until a car crashed into it, and when the interstate was planned for that spot, the marker was rebuilt here — a memorial displaced twice over.

What the plaque says

The pony express epoch began simultaneously April 3, 1860 with riders starting at St. Joseph, Missouri, and San Francisco, California. It was a 1966 mile journey and reduced the time of transmitting news across the country from approximately 21 to 10 days. Nearly one hundred stations were established. This spot marks the first station south of Salt Lake City. It was a small adobe building known as Travelers’ Rest. Here riders exchanged horses and received needed repairs, food, or lodging. With the inception of telegraph the pony express was abolished in October, 1861. Our D.U.P. pony express monument originally stood at 6460 South State Street where it was demolished in a car accident. Plans for the building of an interstate highway at that location made it necessary to erect a new monument here.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• International Peace Gardens — 5.1 mi
  A hidden garden where 28 countries are represented in miniature
• Gilgal Sculpture Garden — 6.0 mi
  A surreal and eccentric sculpture garden hidden in a residential neighborhood
• Liberty Park — 6.1 mi
  Salt Lake Citys beloved 80-acre urban park since 1882
• This Is The Place Heritage Park — 7.4 mi
  A living history village at the mouth of Emigration Canyon

More markers nearby

• Murray Smelting — steps away
• Mahonri Moriancumer Cahoon — 0.4 mi
• South Cottonwood Campground (Half-way Camp) — 0.7 mi
• The Old Rock Granary — 0.7 mi