Madonna of the Trail, Monument to pioneer women in Springfield, US.
Madonna of the Trail is a monument in Springfield showing a pioneer woman carrying an infant in one arm while a young child holds onto her skirt. The granite figure stands about 10 feet tall at its original site near the National Road.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated the monument on July 4, 1928, to honor pioneer women. The location was chosen because the National Road ended here and led westward.
The statue takes its name from the women who walked the westward trails with their families during the settlement period. Visitors today see a mother holding an infant, representing the role women played during these long journeys.
The monument stands at an easily accessible location near historical sites along the National Road. Visitors can reach the statue on foot and read the inscriptions on its base.
Inscriptions on the base mention General George Rogers Clark and link the monument to local events from the 18th century. This connection sets the Springfield statue apart from other monuments in the same series.
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