''Madonna of the Trail'' is a series of 12 identical monuments dedicated to the spirit of pioneer women in the United States. The monuments were commissioned by the National Society of

Daughters of the American Revolution The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence. A non-profit group, they promote ...

(NSDAR). They were installed in each of the 12 states along the National Old Trails Road, which extended from Cumberland, Maryland, to Upland, California. Created by sculptor

August Leimbach August Leimbach (February 12, 1882 – December 18, 1965) was a German-American sculptor. A native of Elberfeld, he studied art and sculpture, and after immigrating to the United States in 1910, he quickly settled in the St.Louis area and work ...

and funded by contributions, the ''Madonna of the Trail'' monuments were intended to provide a symbol of the courage and faith of the women whose strength and love aided so greatly in conquering the wilderness and establishing permanent homes. Dedicated in 1928 and 1929, the twelve statues became sources of local pride. Through the continuing efforts of local and national groups, all are currently in good condition and on display.

History

Some ''Madonna of the Trail'' monuments have become community landmarks. On June 2, 2020, the Upland, California ''Madonna of the Trail'' monument was the site of a Black Lives Matter protest in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

Design and specifications

Locations

There is one monument in each of the 12 states along the

National Old Trails Highway National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and became part of the National Auto Trail system in the United States. It was long and stretched from Baltimore, Maryland (some old maps indicate Ne ...

(much of which later became

U.S. Highway 40 U.S. Route 40 or U.S. Highway 40 (US 40), also known as the Main Street of America, is a major east�