Standing tall at the edge of downtown, this striking 1985 bronze sculpture by renowned Kansas artist Richard Bergen is the largest of its kind in the Midwest. It captures the energy and determination of the first Pony Express rider, Jack Keetley, as he carries the mail west from Marysville on April 3, 1860 — the very first day of the Pony Express.
A nearby plaque tells the remarkable story: in just 18 months, Pony Express riders covered more than 650,000 miles. In that entire span, only one rider was killed, one went missin, and just one delivery failed to arrive.
Commissioned through the R.L. and Elsa Helvering Trust and dedicated by Governor John Carlin on July 4, 1985, during the 125th anniversary of the Pony Express, this sculpture is more than public art — it’s a powerful symbol of Marysville’s role in American history.
