Madonna of the Trail, (sculpture).

Madonna of the Trail, (sculpture).

Leimbach, Auguste, 1882-1965, sculptor.

Landers, H., assistant.

Madonna of the Trail, (sculpture).

Pioneer Mother, (sculpture).

Designed 1927. Copyrighted 1928. Dedicated Sept. 1928. Relocated ca. 1950; June 1987.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: algonite; Base: concrete.

Sculpture: approx. 8 ft. x 3 ft. 6 in. x 3 ft.; Base: approx. 6 ft. 11 in. x 7 ft. x 7 ft. (Sculpture: 5 tons; Base: 12 tons).

(On proper left corner towards front near proper left foot, in cursive:) H. Landers (Front of base:) MADONNA OF THE TRAIL (DAR insignia N.S.D.A.R. MEMORIAL/TO THE/PIONEER MOTHERS/OF THE/COVERED WAGON DAYS. (On one side of base:) CORONADO PASSED HERE/IN 1540/HE CAME TO SEEK GOLD/BUT FOUND FAME (Rear of base:) THE NATIONAL/OLD TRAILS ROAD (Other side of base:) A TRIBUTE TO THE PIONEERS/OF ARIZONA AND THE SOUTHWEST/WHO TROD THIS GROUND/AND BRAVED THE DANGERS/OF THE APACHES AND OTHER/WARRIOR TRIBES signed

A full-length, standing female figure, in pioneer clothing, with a long dress, boots, a sunbonnet, and a shawl. In her proper left arm she holds an infant, and in her proper right hand she holds the top of the barrel of a rifle, the butt of which rests on the ground. A little boy is at her side, with his proper left hand on the rifle and his proper right hand holding the front of her dress. At the figures' feet is a bed of cactus and large leaves. Statue and base are encircled by a low retaining stone wall.

History -- United States -- Westward Expansion

Figure group -- Family -- Mother & Child

Dress -- Historic -- Pioneer Dress

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Allegory -- Life -- Womanhood

Outdoor Sculpture -- Arizona -- Springerville

Town of Springerville, P. O. Box 390, Southeast corner of Main Street & State Route 260 spur, Springerville, Arizona 85938

The statue is one of twelve similar monuments erected and funded by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in each of twelve states through which the National Old Trails Road or Cumberland Road passes. Each sculpture cost $1,000. The Arizona sculpture was dedicated Sept. 27th or 29th, 1928. It has been moved twice since its original installation. Fist, it was moved ca. 1950 for the installation of a traffic light and then it was relocated in June 1987 from the north side of Main Street and State Route 260 spur due to construction of a parking lot.

IAS files contain NSDAR fact sheet giving history of statue and excerpts from White Mountain Independent, June 30, 1987, pg. 6; and Arizona Highways, July 198(?) issue.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Arizona survey, 1994.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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