“NSDAR Memorial to the Pioneer Mothers of the Covered Wagon Days”

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) established a national committee known as the National Old Trails Road Committee that later became an association in 1911-1912. The group wanted to recognize the contributions of pioneer women with a statue to be erected in each of 12 states along the National Road. 

The sites were chosen with the help of the president of the National Old Trails Road Association, a then-little-known Missouri Justice of the Peace named Harry S. Truman, a future president and a power force in this NSDAR project. Bethesda, MD, starts the trail from the east.  And going west we have: Beallsville, PA; followed by Wheeling, WV; Springfield, OH; Richmond, IN; Vandalia, IL; Lexington, MO; Council Grove, KS; Lemar, CO; Albuquerque, NM; Springfield, AZ; and Upland, CA

There are 12 identical statues, in 12 locations from Maryland to California tracing a historic travel route from covered wagon days.  The Madonna of the Trail is an 18 foot tall tribute to the pioneer mothers who traveled west and as one writer describes “with their crazy husbands.”

The Madonna of the Trail is a pinkish, stony-faced pioneer Mom, in a long dress and bonnet, strutting westward with a rifle on one arm, an infant on the other, and another little cruncher grasping Mom's skirt.

Nearly all of the five-ton pioneer Moms face west, although construction projects have re-positioned some of them.  The Bethesda statue faces east though, because …as many said at the time, we can't turn our backs on Washington!

The front of the Madonnas have the same message, “NSDAR Memorial to the Pioneer Mothers of the Covered Wagon Days”.  The back of the statue has the words, “The National Old Trails Road”, and the sides of the statue have information related to the individual states,

The first monument was dedicated July 4, 1928 in Springfield, OH.  Within 9 months, all 12 Madonnas were in place and dedicated.  (Can you imagine getting a project like this accomplished in this day and age?)  Truman dedicated each and every one of the statues. Here are some of his comments at various dedications: “the intrepid women,” his own grandmothers included, “who endured the bone-wrenching weariness and difficult travel”.  “They were just as brave as or braver than their men because, in many cases, they went with sad hearts and trembling bodies. They went, however, and they endured every hardship that befalls a pioneer.” 

Information posted and organized for presentation during the January meeting by Norma Eckard, who was unable to attend the meeting.

There were 12 locations presented at the January meeting by 12 DAR members. Each member had information prepared by Norma Eckard to be read at the meeting. There was a map indicating each location and distance from each other on display.  Bethesda, MD, starts the trail from the east.  And going west we have: Beallsville, PA; followed by Wheeling, WV; Springfield, OH; Richmond, IN; Vandalia, IL; Lexington, MO; Council Grove, KS; Lemar, CO; Albuquerque, NM; Springfield, AZ; and Upland, CA.