Monday in Physical Education, students took an imaginary trip to see the Pony Express Monument in St. Joseph, Missouri. They learned a little bit about the Pony Express which ran from April, 1860, until October, 1861. Riders started in Missouri and traveled through Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California, taking about 10 days to travel the distance. Pony Express stations were set up every 12 miles in order to change out riders and horses. Riders carried over 35,000 letters in the nineteen month history of this organization. More importantly, the Pony Express kept the east and west connected by passing on valuable information of events that were happening in various parts of the United States. The establishment of the transcontinental telegraph eventually replaced the need for the Pony Express.
In PE we set up our own Pony Express. Morning students ran inside due to the cold, but by afternoon it had warmed up enough for the students to run outside. We set up stations, used stick horses, and carried a satchel with a letter inside. Students galloped along and passed the mail satchel off to a new rider with a fresh horse. The rider then stayed at that station until it was time for another turn and a chance to move on to a new station.
The outdoor Pony Express.
The indoor Pony Express.
