Madonna of the Trail — Attraction in Upland

National DAR Commission chairperson Arlene B. Nichols Moss was inspired by Portland, Oregon’s 1905 Sacajawea monument to commission twelve identical Madonna of the Trail statues to be placed in the 12 states through which the “Old Trails Road” passed. The exclusively white DAR, operating amid increased xenophobia and anxiety over new public roles for women in the 1920s, embraced an explicitly white pioneer mother. Like other statues erected during the “Pioneer Mother Movement” of late 1920s and 1930s, the DAR statues balanced women’s strength with softer maternal symbolism.

Sculptor August Leimbach’s larger-than-life pioneer woman steps forward boldly carrying a rifle, and her facial features appear almost masculine. The artist envisioned a scene in which she is looking for her husband whom she believes to be in danger. All of these traits suggest that she is a strong “new woman.” Yet the title Madonna of the Trail evoked W. H. D. Koerner’s famous image of a much gentler woman crowned by a covered-wagon halo.

One Madonna of the Trail statue was erected in each of the states through which the National Old Trails Road passed, at the cost of $1,000 per statue. The statues were placed along key white migration routes, such as the early-19th-century National Road and Santa Fe Trail (which became U.S. Highway 40 and the infamous Route 66 in the 20th century,...

If you're looking for a more intermediate trail to jog up or down on other than the Pacific Electric, then this trail is the one you'd want. With great views and less traffic the closer to the mountains you get, this trail is perfect for a stroll or competitive race. Though I wouldn't drink water from the fountains, just a heads up, they're old is all. Park in the Vons/Chase parking lot and...

Eleven more statues, all alike, lie eastward in each state through which the old National Road passes — this is its western terminus, the final acknowledgment of many crossings, of endeavors recorded and forgotten, of peoples colliding or converging in desperate or hopeful enterprise. Worth a moment’s reflection. Parking on either side of the divided street; be wary of the...