Feedback Form

Madonna of the Trail – Wheeling WV

Madonna of the Trail – Wheeling WV
General History
Wheeling West Virginia 26003

Information

304-232-0244
lat: 40.0557957 long: -80.6692089

The “Madonna of the Trail” statue on the edge of Wheeling Park along Route 40 is hard to miss. It has become an icon in Wheeling and has been featured prominently on everything from welcome signs to tourism brochures.

The sculpture itself depicts a 10-foot tall, 19th century era, pioneer woman, holding a rifle in one hand and cradling an infant in the other with a young boy clutching her skirts. Her features are stern, almost traditionally masculine, and she is stepping forward boldly—as if into her future in the West.

But…most people don’t realize that Wheeling’s Madonna isn’t the only statue of its kind. There are twelve—all across the United States.

In the early 20th century, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) and the newly-created National Old Trails Road Association (NOTR) teamed up to designate and commemorate the National Old Trails Road. The commemorative road system stretches from Maryland to California and is largely made up of the National Road (Route 40) and the Santa Fe Trail. After the Industrial Revolution, travel by automobile was becoming more popular and accessible in the early 1900s, spurring a sense of nostalgia for the old trails and migration by covered wagon.

In honor of the American women—pioneer women—who traveled west and built new lives along these trails, NSDAR and NOTR commissioned sculptor August Leimbach to create twelve identical Madonna of the Trial statues, one for each state the National Old Trails Road passed through. All of the statues were made out of a cost-effective algonite and installed between 1928 and 1929, each costing $1,000.

When it came time to choose the host town/city for West Virginia’s Madonna of the Trail statue—the choice was pretty simple. Since the National Road only passes through a very small section of West Virginia in Ohio County, Wheeling was the clear choice. Wheeling was also the western terminus of the National Road for several years before it was expanded into Ohio. Constructed between 1811 and 1834, the National Road (Route 40) was the first federally funded road that was created to access western territories; it reached Wheeling in 1818. Thousands of covered wagons and stagecoaches carried people, goods, and mail along the famous thoroughfare, including many Americans looking to start new lives and futures.

In addition to the requirement that the statue be located along the National Old Trails route (National Road), another criteria was that the location was (or near) a site of historical significance. Wheeling Park was a public space that was easily accessible and popular with Wheeling residents. It was also right down the road from the Shepherd Plantation—a site that has long played a role in the lore of National Road.

Get Directions

Nearby Attractions

Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum
Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum

Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum, Kruger Street, Wheeling, WV, USA
Distance: 1.20 mi (straight line)

Museums and Interpretive Centers

View Listing
Historic Wheeling, West Virginia
Historic Wheeling, West Virginia

Wheeling, West Virginia, USA
Distance: 2.79 mi (straight line)

Cultural Districts

View Listing
West Virginia Independence Hall
West Virginia Independence Hall

West Virginia Independence Hall, Market Street, Wheeling, WV, USA
Distance: 2.84 mi (straight line)

Museums and Interpretive Centers

View Listing
Victoria Theater
Victoria Theater

Victoria Theater, Market Street, Wheeling, WV, USA
Distance: 2.90 mi (straight line)

Galleries and Venues

View Listing
Wheeling’s Historic Centre Market
Wheeling’s Historic Centre Market

2200 Market St, Wheeling, West Virginia, USA
Distance: 2.92 mi (straight line)

Shopping

View Listing
Centre Market
Centre Market

Centre Market, Wheeling WV, Market Street, Wheeling, WV, USA
Distance: 2.92 mi (straight line)

Festivals and Events Food and Drinks Shopping

View Listing
Wheeling Artisan Center
Wheeling Artisan Center

Wheeling Artisan Center Shop, Main Street, Wheeling, WV, USA
Distance: 2.92 mi (straight line)

Galleries and Venues Shopping

View Listing
Heritage Port
Heritage Port

Heritage Port, Water Street, Wheeling, WV, USA
Distance: 3.04 mi (straight line)

Outdoor Experiences Viewpoints

View Listing
The Eckhart House
The Eckhart House

810 Main Street, Wheeling, WV, USA
Distance: 3.16 mi (straight line)

Food and Drinks

View Listing
Wheeling Historic Suspension Bridge
Wheeling Historic Suspension Bridge

Wheeling Suspension Bridge, Wheeling, WV, USA
Distance: 3.21 mi (straight line)

General History

View Listing
Wheeling Suspension Bridge
Wheeling Suspension Bridge

Wheeling Suspension Bridge, Wheeling, WV, USA
Distance: 3.21 mi (straight line)

Viewpoints

View Listing
Mt Wood Overlook
Mt Wood Overlook

Mount Wood Overlook, Mount Wood Road, Wheeling, WV, USA
Distance: 3.28 mi (straight line)

Outdoor Experiences Viewpoints

View Listing
Martins Ferry Winterfest
Martins Ferry Winterfest

Martins Ferry, OH, USA
Distance: 4.03 mi (straight line)

Festivals and Events

View Listing
Betty Zane Days
Betty Zane Days

Martins Ferry, OH, USA
Distance: 4.03 mi (straight line)

Festivals and Events Fun and Sports

View Listing
Martins Ferry Strawberry Festival
Martins Ferry Strawberry Festival

410 Hanover Street, Martins Ferry, OH 43935, USA
Distance: 4.04 mi (straight line)

Festivals and Events

View Listing
Deluxe Toy & Hobby
Deluxe Toy & Hobby

Deluxe Toy & Hobby, Hanover Street, Martins Ferry, OH, USA
Distance: 4.08 mi (straight line)

Shopping

View Listing
Imperial Glass Museum
Imperial Glass Museum

National Imperial Glass Museum, Belmont Street, Bellaire, OH, USA
Distance: 4.84 mi (straight line)

Galleries and Venues Museums and Interpretive Centers

View Listing
Great Stone Viaduct
Great Stone Viaduct

Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society, Union Street, Bellaire, OH, USA
Distance: 4.91 mi (straight line)

Other

View Listing

Sign Up for the Lewis & Clark Trail Experience Newsletter

Our bi-weekly newsletter provides news, history, and information for those interested in traveling along along the Lewis & Clark Trail.


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive the Lewis and Clark Travel Experience newsletter provided by the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance. You can revoke your consent at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribeÂŽ link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

Instagram Feed