Council Grove

Madonna of the Trail, Auguste Leimbach, 1928
No, this not a sculpture of the pop star Madonna! This is a sculpture of a pioneer woman and her children in the days of covered wagons and the Sante Fe Trail. Why is it called Madonna? Madonna is a term sometimes used for mother, which refers to the biblical figure of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This sculpture honors women's role in the western migration. There are a total of 12 sculptures like this one by the same artist in states where the major trails to the west passed.