In 1859 Samuel S. Buckland settled on the bank of the Carson River. He established a ranch and station stop for the Overland Stage Company. He built the first toll bridge to exist downstream from Genoa.
Samuel married Eliza Prentice in 1860 and built a large log cabin for his new bride. The cabin was used as a rally point for volunteers in the Pyramid Lake Indian War. Buckland’s served as the first county seat of Churchill County, even though it is located in Lyon County.
Buckland’s Station and the “good-sized cabin” was used as a remount station for the Pony Express when they began mail service in 1860. After Fort Churchill was completed in the summer of 1860, the Pony Express station relocated to the fort. The closest Pony Express stations to Buckland’s were Miller’s or Reeds Station to the west and Hooten Well and Desert Stations to the east.
In 1870 Samuel built the house that still stands today. He used materials salvaged from Fort Churchill when it was dismantled in 1869 after the conclusion of the Civil War.
Samuel Buckland and his family are burried at the Fort Churchill cemetery 2 miles north west of Buckland’s Station.
In 1997 Buckland’s Station and the ranch buildings was added to the Fort Churchill State Park.
We visited Buckland’s Station with friend Stephen. We combined with trip with Hooten Well, Desert Station, Dayton and Empire City.
Visited 5-31-2020, 11-2019
References
- Basso, Dave. Nevada Historical Marker Guidebook. Nevada Publications, 1986. Page 192.
- History.com: 10 Things you may not know about the Pony Express
- Nevada Bureau of Land Management. The Pony Express in Nevada. Nevada State Museum, 1996. Page 13.
- National Park Service: Pony Express
- Nevada State Parks: Buckland Station
- Nevada State Parks: Fort Churchill
- Notes from the Frontier: The Pony Express: Rugged Riders on Fleet-footed Horses
- Paher, Stanley. Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps. Nevada Publications, 1970. Page 79.
- Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection: Buckland Family
- Wikipedia: Fort Churchill State Historic Park
- Wikipedia: Pony Express
Steve says
Nice history and pictures
Steve says
Nice history and pictures Glad we spent time there
Tami says
I’m glad we stopped. Some day I’ll get to see the inside of Buckland’s! I always seem to miss museum hours.