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
Pacific telegraph primary source set
Overland telegraph primary source set
Historical newspaper coverage through 1862
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
- Today in History: First Telegraphic Message Sent
- Primary Source Spotlight: Samuel Morse
- Electromagnetism, Electric Communication, and Community Examine electro-magnetism and the science of communication through primary source analysis and construction of a telegraph machine