In this episode of Dave Does History, we saddle up and gallop into one of the most iconic yet short-lived chapters of the American West—the Pony Express.

Born out of urgency and ambition in 1860, this daring mail service bridged nearly 2,000 miles of rugged terrain, linking East to West in just ten days. Though it ran for only 18 months, its legend endures.

We’ll explore the facts, the folklore, and the fearless riders—including my own great-grandfather, Francis Marion Holt—who carried the nation's hopes on horseback, even as the telegraph wires closed in.

This is the true ride of the Pony Express.