Two days. That's how long the Pony Express survived once this wire was finished.

On October 24, 1861, Western Union completed the first transcontinental telegraph line in the United States, connecting the East to California. For the first time, a message could cross the continent in moments instead of days.

The legendary Pony Express, whose riders had carried mail across the West in relays, could not compete. It officially closed on October 26, 1861, after only about 18 months in operation.

Why it still matters: the telegraph was the internet of its day. It reshaped business, news and government, and it set the pattern for every network that connects us now.

Which invention do you think changed communication the most?

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