Fast horses, intrepid young riders, and miles of untamed land these are the elements of one of American history s most enduring stories: the Pony Express. During its brief existence, the Pony Express captured the American imagination, and nearly a century and a half later, it still does. In this photographic retelling of the legendary mail service s rise and fall, husband-and-wife authors Bill and Jan Moeller combine exhaustive historical research with exquisite camera work to create a stunning, full-color pictorial history. Following the 2,000-mile Pony Express Trail from Independence, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, the Moellers photographed sites, remnants, and reconstructions of Pony Express stations, surrounding landscapes, and traces of the trail itself. In the accompanying text, the authors provide a brief history of this unique, eighteen-month business venture, along with dramatic highlights, such as Pony Bob Haslam s astounding 380-mile ride, Uncle Nick Wilson s survival of an arrow in his skull, and Wild Bill Hickok s gunfight with David McCanles at Rock Creek Station in Nebraska.
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Husband and wife Bill and Jan Moeller are professional photographers, researchers, and writers. Since 1982 they have traveled full time in their RV to visit and photograph battlefields and other historical sites, and to write books about the two primary influences currently affecting their lives: western history and recreational vehicles. In addition, they write a weekly syndicated newspaper column called "RV Traveling. Before embarking on land-based ventures, they lived aboard a sailboat for twelve years and circumnavigated the eastern United States--up the Hudson River to the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, and back to the eastern seaboard.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A vibrant trip into history!,
By
This review is from: The Pony Express: A Photographic History (Paperback)
The Moellers capture the real pony express in a way only they can!
The photos are stunning! I am proud to have this book on my coffee table! You will want to take this trip yourself!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very interesting book, lots of good pictures. one correction must be made,
By Gridley Jr. (Midwestern US) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Pony Express: A Photographic History (Paperback)
This is a really good book in most ways. The pictures showing the locations of some of the Pony Express stations, some with remaining features visible, really bring the existence of the Express to life despite the long years since its brief operation.
The writers acknowledge, to their credit, that some of the information which they publish regarding certain Pony Express riders may be different than what is printed elsewhere. Despite their caveat, I was particularly disappointed to see that in his brief write-up, they took a rather casual attitude towards Robert "Pony Bob" Haslam, who is generally regarded as probably the greatest rider in the history of the Express. In this book the authors say that he may have only claimed the long rides attributed to him, and that "some sources claim that he never rode for the Pony Express" and had been only as a stagecoach driver. Robert Haslam's entry in the 1860 US Census has recently been found. It lists him (with his last name spelled 'Hashlam' but the other information makes clear it is him) - and his occupation as "Pony Express Rider". Haslam was surveyed for the census a mere few months after the beginning of the Express and it seems highly doubtful that he would have begun making up stories of being a Pony Express rider at such an early date. The opinion of a small minority that he might have not been a Pony Express rider was given too much weight to begin with, and that opinion now has been disproved. Robert "Pony Bob" Haslam was indeed a Pony Express rider, likely the greatest of them all. Having corrected that mistake, the rest of the book is well worth reading and enjoying.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great "Coffee Table" Book,
By Toady (Northern California) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Pony Express: A Photographic History (Paperback)
I purchased this book as a gift for a friend. He absolutely loved it. He called me to say he had actually been to a couple of the "stops" listed in the book. I just briefly thumbed thru it, before wrapping it, and it had great pictures and was not to wordy. Just enough information to keep you interested without becoming bored and laying the book down. Would recommend this book to any one interested in the Pony Express!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
