Wells Fargo History Museum

Wells Fargo and Company’s Express provided financial services by the fastest means available: overseas by sailing ship or steamer; and overland by stagecoach, Pony Express or railroad. Within a few years, business was transacted electronically by telegraph, which would later grow to include radio, telephone and the internet.

From the first day of business, Wells Fargo came through for pioneer miners, merchants and ranchers in the West. And in a very short time, the company opened offices in mining camps, towns and cities—there were more than 10,000 Wells Fargo offices by 1918.