Pony Express, historical events planned in Genoa

Nevada Appeal Staff Report

Genoa’s Mormon Station State Historic Park is holding two official Nevada 150 events this week to celebrate the state’s sesquicentennial birthday.

The National Pony Express Association will reenact a 10-day ride that took place in 1860-1861 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Mormon Station State Historic Park and Genoa Volunteer Fire Department.

Riders follow the original route from Sacramento, Calif., to St. Joseph, Mo. Members of the Pony Express Association ride 24 hours a day for 10 days to deliver the mail in this annual re-enactment. A rider from California is expected to arrive around 11:30 a.m. to bring mail into the stockade, change the mailbag and cheer as the next rider continues east.

There will also be a flag ceremony and a barbecue at the Genoa Country Store. There will be presentations about the history of the Pony Express, and the Log Cabin Museum and Genoa Courthouse Museum will be open for tours.

On Saturday, the park will host a living history day with activities, free presentations, food, music and more.

Events begin at 10 a.m. with a Pony Express mail exchange, followed by chautauqua-style presentations of Orson Hyde, Sarah Winnemucca, Charlie Parkhurst, and Warren Upson.

Members of the Sierra Nevada and Truckee Meadows Mormon Pioneers will demonstrate pioneer tools, and there will be children’s games, toys, Dutch oven cooking and more. A small-town parade with children, tractors and horses will be included.

The Mayfield Gang will perform old west gunfights throughout the day and bingo with the Kiwanis will take place inside the Genoa Volunteer Fire Department. Beginning at 4 p.m., the Old West Trio will perform at the Genoa Volunteer Fire Department, followed by a barbecue dinner by Carson City BBQ. Indian tacos will be for sale in town and the Nevada Nosh food truck will be nearby.

Admission is free; pets are not permitted. For more information, call 775-782-2590, or email mormonstation@park.nv.gov.