Patee House Museum

The primary purpose of the Pony Express Historical Association is to operate Patee House Museum and the Jesse James Home as historically accurate, educational, and interesting museums where people of all ages can learn and have fun. 7,267 visitors toured. Patee House and the Jesse James Home in 2022. Visitors came from 50 out of 50 states and 22 foreign countries. Patee House is a National Historic Landmark for its role as the Pony Express headquarters and its service as the Provost Marshal's office during the Civil War. Further more Patee House contains an 1860's steam locomotive, stagecoach, a working vintage carousel, and much more all inside the block-square, four-story brick building. The house where the infamous outlaw Jesse James was killed now stands on the grounds of Patee House. Inside there are exhibits explaining the life and death of Jesse, including artifacts from the grave, removed during the exhumation in 1995. The building is also on the National Register of Historic Places. CODE 900099

As headquarters of the Pony Express, Patee House serves as either the start or finish of the annual re-ride put on each year by the National Pony Express Association (NPEA) in June. The Pony Express Historical Association works with members of the NPEA in eight states to plan and stage the relay ride, which uses approximately 550 people to carry commemorative letters 2,000 miles by horseback. Every year, Patee House Museum and the Jesse James Home are the subject of historical documentaries. Crews from around the world come to the museums to research and film at the historic locations and interview museum staff. CODE 900099

No new exhibits were added in 2023.