History
The concept of the Madonna of the Trail Monuments was first envisioned in 1909 by women in Missouri who desired to mark the Santa Fe Trail. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) soon joined in, forming the National Old Trails Road Committee in 1911 with the goal of identifying and establishing the Old Trails Road as a National Memorial Highway, a project funded by Act of Congress and headed by then Judge Harry S Truman. Extending from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, California, the 3,095-mile highway follows the paths of Braddock’s and Washington’s Road, the National Road, Boone’s Lick Road, the Santa Fe Trail, and the Old Trail.
In 1924, the plan was changed from installing small cast iron plaques at mile increments to that of erecting large markers along the route. Three years later the NSDAR approved the present design of the Madonna of the Trail, one to be placed in each of the twelve states through which the National Old Trails Road passes. The first, located in Springfield, Ohio was installed on 4 July 1928, and Arizona’s Madonna, the seventh of the series, was dedicated on 29 September 1928. Truman, who later became the 33rd president of the United States, personally dedicated each statue, and a large color photograph hangs in a place of honor in the captain’s quarters of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman.
The Madonna of the Trail is a pioneer woman clasping her baby with her young son clinging to her skirts. The face of the mother portrays a woman strong in character, beauty and gentleness, yet one who realizes her responsibilities and trusts in God. She stands ten feet tall on top of a six-foot base, and both of these rest upon a five-foot foundation of which only the top two are visible, resulting in a total height of 18 feet. The figure and base are made of algonite stone, a poured medium consisting of stone, marble, cement, lead, and Missouri granite, the latter providing a warm, pink shade. It was designed and created by August Leimbach, a German sculptor born on 12 February 1882. He studied art and was most likely a trained sculptor when he immigrated to the United States in 1910 and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. After his death on 18 December 1965, he was buried in his native country.
The Arizona Madonna was originally placed at a spot where the National Road intersects the Coronado Trail, outside the town of Springerville in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. It was later moved into the center of the town on Main Street (U.S. Highway 60).
Restoration
In 2004 State Regent Dawn Hines appointed Susan D. North to oversee the renovation of the monument. Time and the elements, as well as the moving of the monument had taken their toll on the statue, leaving the surface marred with cracks and discoloration. More than $25,000 was raised for the project, and artist Michael Major completed the repairs in June 2006.
The process involved cleaning the monument and a thorough inspection before Major could begin to repair cracks and holes. He then sealed the aging cement surface with an elastomeric coating, a flexible substance that can stretch and shrink with atmospheric changes. This coating, a resin that filters ultraviolet light, reduces the damaging effects of the sun and repels water, while still allowing the monument to “breathe” or release moisture. While still fresh and sticky, he then added a new layer of granite particles. This layer absorbs much of the abuse it faces from the elements, which extended the Madonna’s life span and returned her to her intended pink color.
To celebrate the renewal of the monument, a rededication ceremony was held 23 September 2006 in conjunction with Springerville-Eagar Heritage Celebration Day. Several events were held, beginning with a dinner on Friday evening for DAR members and their guests at the Safire Restaurant, where Major gave a presentation on his work.
The rededication ceremony of the Madonna of the Trail was held at 11:00 a.m. in Becker Park in downtown Springerville. Among those giving presentations were Mayor Kay Dyson, State Regent Martha Jones, and Major. Immediately following the ceremony, Arizona Daughters and their guests attended an appreciation luncheon at Pioneer Park.
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