Special cachet used to identify the mailpieces carried by the Hashknife Pony Express, official Mail Messengers of the U.S. Postal Service

Hashknife Pony Express

A project to document the history and significance of the only pony express that still delivers mail for the US Postal Service, the Hashknife Pony Express made its 42nd ride January 26 through 29th, 2000, traveling 200 miles from Holbrook, Arizona to Scottsdale and delivering 20,000 first class letters. The ride is conducted by the Navajo County Hashknife Sheriff's Posse, which was organized as a search and rescue group in 1955. More than two dozen riders in authentic cowboy garb carry the mail, relaying the bags along the route. As the word has spread about the ride, public participation has increased, with many letters arriving in the Holbrook Post Office the week before the ride, marked "via Pony Express." Each letter is stamped with a special cachet. The arrival of the Hashknife Gang in Scottsdale kicks off the annual Parada del Sol, so that the Pony Express ride extends into the parade in which the riders participate. A 40-minute videotape and a notebook of news articles and photos document the ride. Also included are two large posters and official medals, buttons, and a bandana, designed to represent the Arizona state flag, worn by riders.

Originally submitted by: Jon Kyl, Senator.

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The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.

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