Patee House, built in 1858 and now a National Historic Landmark, housed the offices of the Pony Express, founded by Russell, Majors and Waddell, as well as the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad and the Civil War offices of the U.S. Provost Marshall. The Pony Express operated beginning in 1860 under Russell, Majors, and Waddell as founders, owners, and operators, and 120 celebrated riders rode 650,000 miles with only one rider killed by Indians, one schedule not completed, and one mail lost.
