Stories

Visit the ruins of the Pinery Station and get a sense of the isolation and rugged beauty that travelers experienced here in 1858. The old stone walls stand today as a testament to the spirit of change that early travelers, station keepers, and stage drivers carried as they passed this way over a century and a half ago.

Those portions of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail authorized by Congress include over 3,000 miles of historic trail that was once an overland mail route between the eastern United States and growing populations on the West Coast. The route passes through seven states from Missouri to California. Learn more about the stage route stations by state.

John Butterfield was instrumental in the development of a overland mail route from St. Louis to San Francisco where mail had to be delivered in 25 days or less.