A Sign of the Times: The Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Service

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The Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Service operated from 1858 to 1861–it carried passengers and US mail from St Louis, Missouri to San Francisco, California.  The route covered almost 2,800 miles through mostly the Southern states. The contract with the US Postal Service was 29 days to get mail across the country. It is estimated there were 175 stage stops along the route; one of those stops was Temecula, California which is now famous for their grape vineyards and wineries.  These two signs, which once hung on buildings in Temecula during the Butterfield run, now hang proudly in the Museum’s Barn addition.  They are remarkable pieces of American history.