Madonna of the Trail, Springfield, Ohio.

Madonnas of the Trail

A recurring piece of public statuary stands in twelve locations from Maryland to California, tracing a historic travel route from "covered wagon days." The statue is the Madonna of the Trail, an 18-ft. tall tribute to the pioneer mothers who traveled west with their crazy husbands.

The Madonna of the Trail is a pinkish, stony-faced pioneer Mom, in long dress and bonnet, strutting westward with a rifle on one arm, an infant on the other, another little cruncher grasping Mom's skirt (you may find Pioneer Dad on another statue in town, riding a horse).

The Madonnas of the Trail were a project of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, dedicated in 1928-29. They are strung along the National Old Trails Road, now mostly Rt. 40. Artist August Leimbach created the mold. The poured algonite stone sculptures -- a mixture of crushed marble, Missouri granite, stone, cement and lead ore -- are identical. The historical info on the base of each varies from locale to locale.

Nearly all of 10-ft. tall, five ton pioneer mothers face west; the exception is the one in Bethesda, Maryland, facing east towards Washington.

To properly honor the pioneer spirit, one should retrace the entire trail, and photograph all twelve cookie cutter statues. Or, with less honor, take twelve photos of one and say you saw 'em all...

    Which one is this? Beats us...
  1. Bethesda, Maryland
  2. Beallsville, Pennsylvania
  3. Wheeling, West Virginia, National Hwy 40
  4. Springfield, Ohio - Placed some ten blocks from the National Old Trails Highway, for no good reason anyone can remember.
  5. Richmond, Indiana
  6. Vandalia, Illinois
  7. Lexington, Missouri
  8. Council Grove, Kansas
  9. Lamar, Colorado
  10. Albuquerque, New Mexico
  11. Springerville, Arizona
  12. Upland, California

Madonna of the Trail:
Address: Main St, Springerville, AZ [Show Map]
Directions: US Rt. 60 (Main St.) across from Post Office
Hours: Always visible.
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Madonna of the Trail:
Address: Euclid Avenue, Upland, CA [Show Map]
Directions: Foothill Boulevard and Euclid Avenue
Hours: Always visible.
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Madonna of the Trail:
Address: S Main St., Lamar, CO [Show Map]
Directions: S Main St. and Beech St.
Hours: Always visible.
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Madonna of the Trail:
Address: 315 West Gallatin Street, Vandalia, IL [Show Map]
Directions: SE corner of the Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site.
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Madonna of the Trail:
Address: Richmond, IN
Directions: US 40/East Main Street at N. 22nd Street in Glen Miller Park.
Hours: Always visible.

Madonna of the Trail:
Address: Main St, Council Grove, KS [Show Map]
Directions: Union & Main Sts.
Hours: Always visible.
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Madonna of the Trail:
Address: Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD [Show Map]
Directions: Wisconsin Avenue and Old Georgetown Rd
Hours: Always visible.
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Madonna of the Trail:
Address: Main St, Lexington, MO [Show Map]
Directions: Main St. and Jack's Ford Rd.
Hours: Always visible.
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Madonna of the Trail:
Address: 4th St, Albuquerque, NM [Show Map]
Directions: 4th and Marble NW
Hours: Always visible.
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Madonna of the Trail:
Address: 1900 Park Rd, Springfield, OH [Show Map]
Directions: US Rt. 40 - Snyder's Park.
Hours: Always visible.
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Madonna of the Trail:
Address: US Route 40, Beallsville, PA [Show Map]
Directions: US Rt. 40, across from Nemacolin Country Club,12 mi. E of Washington, PA.
Hours: Always visible.
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Madonna of the Trail:
Address: US Route 40, Wheeling, WV [Show Map]
Hours: Always visible.
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Other Mothers:
Mother's Day Shrine, Grafton, West Virginia
Mom-uments to Mom, Ashland, Pennsylvania

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