''Madonna of the Trail'' is a series of 12 identical monuments dedicated to the spirit of
pioneer
Pioneer commonly refers to a settler who migrates to previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited land.
In the United States pioneer commonly refers to an American pioneer, a person in American history who migrated west to join in settling and dev ...
women in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...
. 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 promot ...
(NSDAR). They were installed in each of the 12 states along the
National Old Trails Road
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 N ...
, which extended from
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a U.S. city in and the county seat of Allegany County, Maryland. It is the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 19,076. Located on the Potomac River, ...
, to
Upland, California
Upland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States on the border with neighboring Los Angeles County. The municipality is located at an elevation of 1,242 feet (379 m). As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 79,040 ...
.
Created by sculptor
August Leimbach 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
Black Lives Matter (abbreviated BLM) is a decentralized political and social movement that seeks to highlight racism, discrimination, and racial inequality experienced by black people. Its primary concerns are incidents of police brutali ...
protest in the wake of the
murder of George Floyd
On , George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was murdered in the U.S. city of Minneapolis by Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old white police officer. Floyd had been arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill. Chauvin knelt on Floyd's ne ...
.
Design and specifications
Locations
There is one monument in each of the 12 states along the
National Old Trails Highway (much of which later became
U.S. Highway 40 and
U.S. Highway 66).
The monuments in order of dedication are:
Images
Image:Madonna-Sign1.jpg
Image:Madonna-Sign-2.jpg
Further reading
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See also
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List of statues
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National Auto Trail
The system of auto trails was an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. Marked with colored bands on utility poles, the trails were intended to help travellers in ...
*
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The ...
References
External links
''Madonna of the Trail'' , August Leimbach website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Madonna Of The Trail
1928 sculptures
1929 sculptures
Buildings and structures in Apache County, Arizona
Buildings and structures in Prowers County, Colorado
Daughters of the American Revolution
Local monuments and memorials in the United States
Monuments and memorials in Arizona
Monuments and memorials on the National Register of Historic Places in California
Monuments and memorials in Colorado
Monuments and memorials in Illinois
Monuments and memorials in Indiana
Monuments and memorials in Kansas
Monuments and memorials in Maryland
Monuments and memorials in Missouri
Monuments and memorials in New Mexico
Monuments and memorials in Ohio
Monuments and memorials in Pennsylvania
Monuments and memorials in West Virginia
Outdoor sculptures in Arizona
Outdoor sculptures in California
Outdoor sculptures in Colorado
Outdoor sculptures in Illinois
Outdoor sculptures in Indiana
Outdoor sculptures in Kansas
Outdoor sculptures in Maryland
Outdoor sculptures in Missouri
Outdoor sculptures in New Mexico
Outdoor sculptures in Ohio
Outdoor sculptures in Pennsylvania
Outdoor sculptures in West Virginia
Stone sculptures in the United States
Tourist attractions along U.S. Route 66
Monuments and memorials to pioneer women
California Historical Landmarks
Upland, California
Buildings and structures in San Bernardino County, California
Sculptures of children in the United States
Sculptures of women in the United States