After a prologue that takes place immediately after the end of the Civil War, the body of the film takes place fifty years later, which would make it about 1914. At this time the Three Mesquiteers are supposed to be Pony Express riders; however, Pony Express only ran from 1860 to 1861, having been abandoned at the start of telegraph service. This has been regarded as a goof but it is clear that the pony express at the start of the film is a recreation to celebrate the town's anniversary.
Despite the fact that the story is supposed to be taking place around 1914, the women wear mostly 1939 fashions and hairstyles throughout, except at the New Hope Valley 50th Anniversary Dance, where they are all in period costume. Meantime everyone uses buckboards and horse drawn buggies for transportation, and there is not an automobile in sight, even though they were in common use by this time.