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Madonna of the Trail

Art & landmarks
In Upland, California
On Route 66

Madonna of the Trail is a 1929 statue of a pioneer mother in Upland, CA. She holds a baby while her small son clings to her skirts. It is the westernmost of 12 matching statues the Daughters of the American Revolution placed along the National Old Trails Road, much of which later became Route 66 in the West. She stands in the Euclid Avenue median just north of Foothill Boulevard, the old Route 66.

What is Madonna of the Trail?

The mother wears a long dress and bonnet and carries a rifle. The cast-stone figure weighs about five tons. German-born sculptor August Leimbach designed it, and all 12 statues share the design.

The base is dedicated to the women who came west with the wagon trains. One side recalls Jedediah Smith, who led trappers over this route in November 1826 as the first Americans to reach California overland.

History of Madonna of the Trail

San Bernardino was expected to get California's statue, but did not raise about $1,500 for the base, so Upland won it. It was dedicated on February 1, 1929, the 11th of the 12; only the Bethesda, Maryland statue came later. It was rededicated in 1979, and a tablet on the base covers a time capsule marked to be opened on February 1, 2029. Since 1998 it has been California Historical Landmark No. 1028.

Visiting Madonna of the Trail: tips

The monument is outdoors and can be seen at any hour, making it a quick photo stop. It sits in a street median, so cross with care. Read the inscriptions on every side of the base.

Updated October 10, 2026 · Written by Route 66 Trip Guide

Practical info

Address: Euclid Ave & W Foothill Blvd, Upland, CA
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Madonna of the Trail

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Magic Lamp Inn
Rancho Cucamonga, CA · 1.4 mi from Madonna of the Trail
A 1950s Route 66 steakhouse whose Aladdin's-lamp neon sign burns a real gas flame after dark.
Diner & restaurant
Sycamore Inn
Rancho Cucamonga, CA · 1.6 mi from Madonna of the Trail
A steakhouse in a 1920 inn on Foothill Boulevard, on a site that fed travelers long before Route 66 existed.