Pony Express River Steamer “Antelope”

For 19 months, from April 3, 1860 to November 20, 1861, Pony Express mail traveled between Sacramento and San Francisco on river steamers operated by the California Steam Navigation Company. The steamers used were the Antelope, New World, Eclipse, Queen City, and Chrysopolis. The first eastbound Pony Express mail arrived here on April 4, 1860, and the first westbound mail left here on the Antelope on April 13, 1860. The steamers arrived and departed at the foot of K Street, leaving at 2:00 p.m. every day except Sunday with mail for San Francisco. There were 20 Pony Express trips overland by horseback to San Francisco because the mail arrived after 2:00 p.m. or on Sunday.

Sacramento, California · United States