Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Pony Express and Other Attractions

Pony Express National Museum

St. Joseph, Missouri

It operated from April 1860-October 1861 for only 18 months.

The riders changed horses at relay stations every 10-15 miles.

The route from St. Joseph to Sacramento took 10 days for 2000 miles.

The westward expansion needed faster communication between East and West

and the Pony Express became synonymous with the Old West.

The "Starting Gate"

7:15 PM April 3, 1860

We enjoyed some beautiful sculptors by Ken Payne

Delivering mail from the East Coast to the West:

By train from the East Coast to Missouri (St. Jo) took 3 days, then 10 days to Sacramento.
Steamship from New York, through the Panama to San Francisco took 4 weeks.
Ships sailed around the Cape Horn to the West Coast took 3 months (minimum).
Stagecoaches took 22 days to get from St. Louis to San Francisco.
Pony Express took 10 days from Missouri to California.

L & C Interpretative Center

We were treated to a discussion by the builder of this model

Keelboat that was used by Lewis and Clark to carry tons of supplies up the Missouri River.

One of 2 smaller boats used by the expedition called a pirogue.

Not a sailboat, but the sail helped alot when conditions were right.

I just liked this model display.

She is so cute ( and reminds me of our Tail Gunner😀)

Missouri River Basin

and

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

The expedition is now heading into Indian Territory (Nebraska and the Dakotas) and have a great many meetings to try to obtain good favor and help as they go up the river.

We get to hear Bruce ( the boat builder) and

Dave ( the Mountain Man) tell tales of the river and the people back in 1804.

We get a photo-op to hear the gunshot of a

Flintlock Kentucky Long Rifle.

and he offers to let Lou hold it

(the one shot has been fired already - lol) and No Lou has not been scalped!

and a Bobcat Headdress??

pretty wild.

or a purse like this??

Omaha Nebraska

Picnic Lunch at the Narrows Missouri Overlook Shelter

We have had lots of good views of trailing along with Lewis and Clark.

Hope you enjoy this with us!

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Treasure Hunting at the bottom of the Missouri River?

After the Steam Engine was developed, travel to the West exploded when settlers could move to the west more easily by steamboat than by covered wagon.

The Missouri River was one of the major routes even though the river was highly turbulent and unpredictable. 400 steamboats were sunk in this period.

Steamboat Arabia carried 200 tons of cargo, many wealthy families and all of their possessions. It sank in 1856. Fortunately all 130 passengers survived but no one could find any trace of the ship until 132 years later.

Many treasure hunters attempted location of the ship but eventually locating the ruins several miles away from the edge of the river and buried deep in mud because the river keeps changing course over time.

Modern technology helped them determine where and how deep the wreck was, but devising a way to divert the water 48 feet down was quite a challenge.

They retrieved this much of the ship

and had to devise methods to keep it from oxidizing and crumbling.

Rumors were that there were 400 barrels of the finest Kentucky Bourbon.

Well, maybe there were 4 and it was fine stuff.

Rumors also had it that the ship had tons of gold and money.

5 gold rings.

4 coins (26 cents!)

but full sets of fine English China

The goods retrieved from the ship is a picture of the pre-Civil War living items.

The founders have decided to share the findings with the public as they continue to restore the items found and share their story.

The restoration is possible because the ship and all the contents were covered by 45 feet of sediment and water, and with no oxygen available all the contents were preserved including a jar of pickles (which the owner relished eating!)

Scale model of the ship.

Part of the actual log that the ship struck and broke off and was still sticking in the hull of the ship.

The restored paddel wheel from the ship

A great museum tour.

Any comments are appreciated!

Miss you all.

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Along the Missouri River ( and other stuff)

Arrow Rock, Missouri

Population 56

The beginning of the Santa Fe Trail

The J. Huston Tavern built in 1833 and has been serving food continuously since then. The food was delicious and reasonably priced!

A Tavern was not just a drinking establishment, but was also a hotel and restaurant.

A general store and meeting room were added and the rooms are on display.

Trundle beds were popular and the quilting method of the day is displayed.

A beautiful hooked rug on disiplay.

A Gunsmith Shop ( one of two in the US)

We were glad to spend an hour with Tyler to hear how he does gunsmithing (as opposed to gun building) and how he had to spend the last 10 years as an apprentice in the only other gunsmith shop ( Williamsburg VA).