Hollenberg Pony Express Station

I strongly recommend a visit to the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, in northeast Washington County, if you have not been there. It is a State Historic Site of the Kansas State Historical Society. I enjoyed my visit on Friday as part of our monthly meeting of the Flint Hills Toursim Coalition, Inc. where we visit a different community and destination site each month.


Gerat H. and Sophia Hollenberg ran both a stop on the California and Oregon Trail AND a Pony Express Station. The visitor center sits on a ridge to the west of the Trails (see photo above) and the Station sat on the ridge to the east (see photos below); part of our group walking to the station (wagon is at far right, ahead, below).
This is the original station, sitting on a restored foundation. Note: you can drive from the visitor's center to the Station.
Duane Durst, site administrator, served as guide and educator to our group. Here he explains how the special saddles were used by the Pony Express riders. There are numerous exhibits in the Station, including clothes the "kids" can try on to simulate being a traveler, or Mr. or Mrs. Hollenberg. Dr. Bill could not resist the opportunity - he should probably "get in shape" before starting on the walk to Oregon...
Duane also showed us the beautiful mural in the visitor's center. This is just a piece of it.

The Flint Hills Tourism Coalition was there for our monthly meeting. Here Carole Jordan, new Director of the Kansas Rural Opportunity office at the Department of Commerce, speaks tothe group.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)