Pony Express Monument at the National
Historic Trails Interpretive Center
Pony Express Statue by Avard Fairbanks
Dedicated at the annual convention of the Oregon
and California Trails Association, August 2001
in Casper, Wyoming, the Pony Express Monument by Avard
T. Fairbanks, PhD was unveiled at the site of the
National
Historic Trails Interpretive Center. Accepting
the statue was Al Pierson of the Bureau
of Land Management. Speaking at the event was
Wyoming Senator
Craig Thomas. And unveiling the statue was Representative
Barbara Cubin. The monument overlooks the historic
North Platte River, along the banks of which ran the
Pony
Express Trail, the Mormon
Pioneer Trail, and the Oregon
and California Trails.
Speaking at the event was the David N.F. Fairbanks,
MD, son of the sculptor. In his remarks, he described
the concept of the sculpture, portraying the vital
interdependence of the generations. Each young generation
depends on the older one to be there, as were the
station keepers with the fresh horses. And each older
generation must bid godspeed to the younger one. The
monument honors the gallant riders who braved blistering
desert heat and icy mountain snows, as well as the
station keepers, many of whom lost their lives in
this daring American enterprise.
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