Wells Fargo’s History
Wells Fargo remains a vital part of the
history of Americans everywhere. Now,
more than 150 years later, you can visit the
Wells Fargo History Museums and learn
all about the rugged individuals who
struggled to make their dreams reality.
Tours and educational programs are
available with advance reservations.
Admission is free.
Wells Fargo History Museum locations
San Francisco–Financial District
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94163
(415) 396-2619
Sacramento–Capitol Mall
400 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 440-4161
Wells Fargo and
the Pony Express
Sacramento–Old Sacramento
1000 Second Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 440-4263
Los Angeles–Downtown
333 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 253-7170
San Diego–Old Town
2733 San Diego Avenue
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 238-3929
Minneapolis–Downtown
Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue
Skyway Level
Minneapolis, MN 55479
(612) 667-4210
Portland–Downtown
1300 SW Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 886-1102
Phoenix–Downtown
145 West Adams Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 378-1852
Also visit the Alaska Heritage Library Museum
301 West Northern Lights Boulevard
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 265-2834
For more information about the
Wells Fargo History Museums,
please visit wellsfargohistory.com.
Tours and educational programs
are available with advance
reservations. Admission is free.
FPO
© 2010 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.
B4970-42
Fast horses, brave
riders, and letters
from across the plains
the Company’s government contract called for
a Pony Express delivery, they took over direct
management of the line. The Wells Fargocontrolled Overland Mail Company again
lowered rates, to $1 per half-ounce, and carried
the mail between San Francisco and Salt Lake
City. The COC & PPE continued to operate the
eastern leg of the Pony Express.
The Pony Express began service on
April 3, 1860, when the Central Overland
California & Pikes Peak Express (COC & PPE)
offered revolutionary, lightning-fast ten-day
mail delivery between St. Joseph, Missouri,
and San Francisco, California.
Pony Express mail left San Francisco on
Wednesdays and Saturdays enclosed in the
four pockets of a “mochila,” a type of saddle
bag, which could hold 20 pounds of express
mail. The daring young riders rode an average
of 75 miles in nine hours, changing horses up
to five times. During the 18-month existence of
the Pony Express, riders carried 35,000 letters,
two-thirds of which were headed east.
The Pony Express ran 1,966 miles over
the Central Overland Route, cutting ten
days off mail deliveries via the Butterfield
route through El Paso and Los Angeles.
Initially, customers paid $5 per half-ounce
for the service.
In 1912, Wells Fargo commemorated its dashing, fearless
riders of 50 years before.
On October 25, 1861, the recently completed
overland telegraph ended the thunder of
horses’ hooves, but by then the Pony Express
had become a larger-than-life Western legend.
Unfortunately, without government subsidy
or lucrative mail contracts, the COC & PPE
became known as “Clean Out of Cash & Poor
Pay Express.” In April 1861, Wells Fargo took
charge of the western end of the route to
keep the Pony Express running. Wells Fargo
lowered the rates to $2 per half-ounce, and
introduced Wells Fargo postage stamps
for use over the entire line.
On the cover
In 1925, famed Western artist Maynard Dixon imagined
the excitement when the Pony Express brought the news
in 1860 of Abraham Lincoln’s election as President.
On July 1, 1861, the Overland Mail Company
— controlled by Wells Fargo — shifted its mail
service from a southern to a central route. As
wellsfargohistory.com/PonyExpress