How long is the butterfield overland trail

Mail from two eastern termini, Memphis, Tennessee, and St. Louis, Missouri, to San Francisco, California. The first overland mail service to California came via the central route, by way of Salt Lake City. In the spring of , Absalom Woodward, who was 50 years old, and George Chorpenning, who was 30, agreed to carry mail from Salt Lake City to Sacramento.

As scheduled, mail started from each end of the nearly 2, mile-long route in September of Louis and thence to eastern cities. The younger Butterfield first traversed the famous route, marked the stations, superintended the work of organization and drove the first stage over the route. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Though the stages had the mail as its first priority, hardy, adventurous passengers were also accepted.

Twenty-five pounds of baggage were allowed, along with two blankets and a canteen. Stages traveled at breakneck speeds, twenty-four hours a day. There were no overnight hotel stops—only hurried intervals at stations where the teams were changed. Waterman L. When the San Diego run did not continue to produce the expected revenue, it was halted.

Short line stage companies began coordinating service with the Butterfield Stage. For example, passengers traveling on the Butterfield line who wanted to go to San Diego, used a shuttle stage service. While it succeeded in delivering the mail within 10 days time between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, the company failed to get the U. Congress ordered the southern route discontinued and the service transferred to the central course at the beginning of the Civil War on March 12, The last Butterfield stage on the Oxbow run occurred March 21, with service ceasing June 30, Between and , the Butterfield Overland Trail ran from St.

Louis to San Francisco. It was an important transportation corridor for the western migration and settlement of our country, and the beginning of an overland mail delivery system. More: Prehistoric Trackways a treasure trove of unique resources. In March , the U. Government ordered closure of the line in response to Texas' secession from the Union. The Butterfield Trail and associated stagecoach station localities are considered to have significant regional, historical and archaeological significance.