Beads from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These beads were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Some are likely trade beads that were widely traded until the 1850s, while others may have been deposited at the site much later. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Bloodletting Lancet from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1900
This lancet was recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Lancets such as this one were used during bloodletting, or phlebotomy, a practice once thought to have beneficial results to one's health. The popularity of bloodletting began to decline in the mid-1800s and fell out of favor by the early twentieth century. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Bottle Base with a Pontil Scar from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1910
This bottle base was recovered from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County during the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school. The base shows a pontil scar, also called a ring pontil, that indicates the bottle was made using a blow pipe. This type of scar is common from the 1750s through the 1910s, though their frequency began to decline with the advent of bottle making machines in the 1880s. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings.

Bottle Fragment from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1891-1941
These bottle fragment was recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. The bottle has an exterior thread closure, but is capped with a crown bottle cap. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Brooch Safety Pin from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
This brooch pin was recovered from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County during the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school. The pin is painted a bright light blue. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings.

Buttons from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These white glass buttons, all with assorted colors around and on their edges, were recovered during excavations at the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. They are more commonly called "china buttons." The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other out buildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Calico Buttons from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1900
These buttons were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. The buttons get their name from their resemblance to patterns of calico material. Patterns shown here are pink asterisks, brown squares, pink diamonds, and brown teardrops. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Caretaker's cottage at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, Washington County, Kansas
Creator: Kansas State Historical Society
Date: 1965
Two views of the caretaker's cottage at the Pony Express Station in Washington County, Kansas. The station, originally a ranch house, was built in 1857 by Gerat H. and Sophia Hollenberg, for people traveling on the Oregon-California Trail, and from 1860 to 1861 it was operated as a Pony Express station. After Gerat Hollenberg's death in 1874, the station became a farm home until 1941 when the Kansas Legislature purchased the building and the surrounding seven acres. The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1961 and two years later, the Kansas Historical Society was given the responsibility to operate it as Hollenberg Pony Express Station Historic Site.

Ceremony at the Pony Express Station, Washington County, Kansas
Creator: Kansas State Historical Society
Date: July 14, 1963
Four photographs showing a ceremony at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station marking the location as a registered National Historic Landmark. The three men pictured by the monument are S. Sohl, M. Mattes, and L. Dieker. The Hollenberg ranch house was built in 1857 by Gerat H. and Sophia Hollenberg, establishing a way station for travelers on the Oregon-California Trail, and from 1860 to 1861 they operated a Pony Express station. After Gerat Hollenberg's death in 1874, the station became a farm home until 1941 when the Kansas Legislature purchased the building and the surrounding seven acres. The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1961 and two years later, the Kansas Historical Society was given the responsibility to operate it as Hollenberg Pony Express Station Historic Site.

Cloth from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These cloth fragments were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Shown is a fragment of a black and white calico (printed cotton fabric) and dotted swiss (muslin fabric decorated with evenly spaced raised dots). The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Comics from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1941
These fragments of a Sunday's comic strips were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Other newspaper fragments associated with these mentioned the Sunflower Ammunition Plant, Desoto, Kansas, opening in March of 1941. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Crock Fragment from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
This crock fragment was recovered from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County during the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school. The interior and exterior of the crock are covered with an Albany slip, a surface treatment that originated in New York State and was most popular from the late 19th- to early 20th centuries. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings.

Crock Fragment from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
This crock fragment is made of stoneware and was used for storing food. It was recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. The crock has an Albany slip, which refers to the dark brown to black slip of clay and water applied before firing of the vessel. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other out buildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Decorated Buttons from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These buttons were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Shown are glass, bone, hard rubber, and plastic buttons in a variety of colors. The button styles represented include shank, 2-hole, and 4-hole. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other out buildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Decorated Buttons from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These glass and jet buttons were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Shown are buttons decorated with facets, molded lines, star bursts, floral patterns, and one with a raised copper floral pattern on top and around the edge. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other out buildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Decorated Dish Fragments from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These dish fragments were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. A wide variety of decorated dishes were recovered from the site including shell-edged, transferware, banded ware, hand painted, and Rockingham patterns. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Decorated Dish Fragments from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These dish fragments were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. A wide variety of decorated dishes were recovered from the site with transferware, banded ware, and hand painted patterns. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other out buildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Dedication of the Pony Express monument, Washington County, Kansas
Date: August 14, 1964
Several photographs of the dedication ceremony for the Pony Express monument in Washington County, Kansas. Waddell F. Smith and Leo Dieker help with the unveiling of the monument. In 1857, Gerat H. and Sophia Hollenberg established a way station for travelers on the Oregon-California Trail, and from 1860 to 1861 they operated a Pony Express station. The Hollenberg Pony Express Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, and earlier as a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

Dinner Plate from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1864-1904
This whiteware plate sherd was recovered from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County in 1991. It was found below the station and may have been lost anytime during the buildings use as a home or station. The sherd shows the maker's mark of the W. & E. Corn pottery of England. The Hollenberg Pony Express Station was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1966, and ealier as a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

Dish Maker's Marks from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These dish fragments were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Each has a partial maker's mark on its base. Pottery marks shown are Knowles, Taylor, and Knowles Company of Ohio (1870-1931), Thomas Furnival and Sons of England (1871-1890), and either Thomas Hughes or Thomas Hughes and Son, also of England (1856-1957). The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Doll Fragments from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These china and bisque doll fragments were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. The fragments represent at least four different dolls. Shown are fragments of four faces, three different legs, and two arms. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other out buildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Dominoes from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These dominoes were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. The larger domino may have been homemade. Dominoes are used in a variety of tile-based games. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Excavations at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1991
These black and white images were taken during the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Shown is a view of the original dirt floor, an original floor joist, Feature 39 limestone slabs, the southeast corner of room 1, the northwest corner of room 6, and a view to the southwest of the mapping of room 6. Also shown is an aerial view to the northeast of the excavation in progress. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Excavations at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1991
These black and white photographs were taken before and during the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Shown are a view of the Pony Express Station prior to being lifted off its foundation and after it was moved to the side so excavation could occur. Also shown are two progress views of the work during the field school, an ash covered, packed surface interpreted as an original dirt floor, room 6 after excavation, and a final view of the excavations. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other out buildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Flatware from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These spoon and handle fragments were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Though eroded, four different patterns of flatware are visible. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.