This is the first in a series of caches to highlight the Pony Express route through El Dorado County
The Pony Express ran through El Dorado County approximately where Highway 50 is today, from April 3, 1860 to October 26, 1861. It was no longer needed when the transcontinental telegraph system was completed on October 24, 1861.
The entire trip of the Pony Express would be completed in 10 days cutting the time of mail and news delivery to the west coast by more than half. No wonder for all the excitement that it generated at the time!
The Pony Express Trail from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, was 1840 miles in length. Upon arrival in Sacramento, the mail was placed on a steamer and continued down the Sacramento River to San Francisco for a total of 1966 miles. The Pony Express Trail went through the present states of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California.
Mormon Tavern
The Mormon Tavern was the first stop on the Eastward leg of the Pony Express in El Dorado County, it was located along the Old Clarksville-White Rock Emigrant Road, which is now U.S. Highway 50, the Mormon Tavern was built in 1848 or 1849 by a Mormon named Morgan. In 1851 it was enlarged and operated by Franklin Winchell. A popular stop for teams and stages, it became a remount station of the Central Overland Pony Express. Here, on April 4, 1860, pony rider William (Sam) Hamilton changed horses on the first trip eastward of the Pony Express.
Situated slightly east of the south end of today's El Dorado Hills Golf Course on U.S. Highway 50, the Tavern offered true "roughing it" hospitality for gold seekers, Westbound travelers on U.S. Highway 50 literally drive right through the site where the Mormon Tavern stood, it was condemned by the State in the early 1960's when the freeway was planned, the Mormon Tavern was burned to the ground as a practice exercise for the local fire department. It was such a sad ending for a place with so many good memories."
There is a historical marker #699 marking this location today.