Today in History: The Transcontinental Telegraph & the End of the Pony Express


Today in History–October 24–the Library of Congress features the transcontinental telegraph system was completed on this day in 1861, which signaled the rapid demise of the short-lived Pony Express. Learn more about these methods of long-distance communication by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below to access more related primary sources.

First Transcontinental Telegraph System Was Completed from America’s Library

Telegraph maps and charts

Pacific telegraph primary source set

Overland telegraph primary source set

Historical newspaper coverage through 1862

Pony express maps

Pony express recollections American Life Histories

Pony express historical newspaper coverage through 1862

Modern-day U.S. legislation related to the Pony express

Related resources