Marysville Travel Guide

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One of the more romanticized episodes of the settling of the American West was the story of the Pony Express, immortalized in verse, song, and film. The image we have of those brave young fellows galloping across the prairie is stirring stuff, and pretty much right on. It was demanding and sometimes dangerous work. We sometimes fail to realize the business side of the venture was not entirely successful, failing to land the hoped-for government subsidy (yes, even in 1859) until it was too late. By then the transcontinental telegraph line had been completed.

This bronze sculpture commemorates Marysville's role as a key home station on the Pony Express route.

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The 1859 native-stone stable shown here is the only original Pony Express home station standing on its original site. These home stations were located at 40 to 50 mile intervals along the Missouri-California route. At this Marysville station, the young riders relayed pouches of valuable mail to the next section rider, then rested while awaiting the next delivery in the opposite direction. In addition to the stable and blacksmith shop, the building houses a museum of Pony Express and Marshall County memorabilia, including and interesting Rural Free (mail) Delivery Cab.

National Register of Historic Places #73000767 (added to list in 1973)

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Just around the corner from the Koester House Museum is the stately 1904 Pusch - Randell - Anderson House, built in the Queen Anne style. This private residence is not open for viewing.

National Register of Historic Places; #86002680, added to the list in 1986.

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Eight important and historic trails passed through this vicinity - the Oregon Trail, Pony Express, Mormon Trail, Overland Trail, Military Trail, Otoe-Missouria Trail, St. Joseph-California Trail, and Pike's Peak-California Trail. These trails are commemorated in a series of informative plaques and monuments, placed in a small wooded park near the location of Franklin Marshall's* ferry on the Big Blue River.

*The county is named after Marshall.

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First of all - understand that these unusual black squirrels are very important to the citizens of Marysville, sort of an unofficial mascot, and are given the right of way all over town. Why? Black squirrels are not native to the midwest. The story goes that a young prankster set a pair loose that were on display at a visiting carnival, and the squirrels were never caught. The descendants can be seen today, especially in the city park, but I saw several others in older parts of town with big trees.

They are not easy to photograph, I might add, as they are as skittish and quick as any other squirrel, and their black color does not stand out very well when in the shade. I had to resort to my long lens and a very high ISO on my DSLR.

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Built in 1876 by one of Marysville's first bankers, this showplace home is now a museum offering guided tours. I did not go in or take the tour (photography not permitted inside anyway), but enjoyed the numerous statues and gardens surrounding the home.

National Register Historic Places #75000715; added to the list in 1975.

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In 1914 the owners of this farm southwest of Marysville ordered a barn, by mail order one assumes. Many say the barn was from Sears and Roebuck, although there is nothing in the barn today to prove (or disprove) that. At any rate, it was shipped as a kit by rail to the Marysville area, then assembled on this spot. The current owners of this farm (whose name escapes me) have beautifully maintained this barn and updated the classic prairie farmhouse on the property as well. The barn is known as the Lewis Rowe barn, probably a reference to the original owners.