Madonna of the Trail, Richmond, Indiana
N 39° 49.827 W 084° 52.328
16S E 682090 N 4411105
One of 12 monuments dedicated to the spirit of pioneering women in the United States.
Waymark Code: WM3A57
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 03/03/2008
Views: 44
The monuments were commissioned by the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). They were placed along the National Old Trails Highway and extended from Bethesda, Maryland, to Upland, California, in each of the 12 states the road passed through.
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.
The statues feature a pioneer woman clasping a baby with her left arm while clutching a rifle with her right. Her young son clings to her skirts. The figure stands 10 feet high with a weight of 5 tons. The figure and the base are made of algonite stone (a poured mass) of which Missouri granite is used as the main aggregate, thus giving the monument a warm, pink shade. With the base, the monuments are about 18 feet high. The inscriptions on the east and west sides of each base are the same, but the north and south sides of each monument usually include local information as well.
Americana: Statue
Significant Interest: Memorial
Web Address: [Web Link]
Milestone / Marker: Not listed
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