Back in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed May 9 as Mother’s Day and asked Americans to “give public expression of reverence to mothers” by celebrating Mother’s Day. And, while not every mother has a statue or monument built in her honor, there are plenty across the country honoring mothers for not only their mothering, but for innovation, bravery, and more.
Make Way for Duckling (Boston, Massachusetts): What could be cuter than a mother duck leading her ducklings across the oldest park in the United States. Based on the 1941 children’s book, Make Way for Ducklings, written by Robert McCloskey, the sculpture in Boston Common, created by Nancy Schon, shows Mother Mallard followed by Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack. One of Boston’s most popular attractions, the Make Way for Ducklings sculpture is also a great photo op. FYI, the book is the official children’s book of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Book a stay at Thousand Trails Gateway to Cape Cod or Thousand Trails Sturbridge and take a quick trip into Boston.
Whistler’s Mother Statue (Ashland, Pennsylvania): Atop a stone staircase on a hill in the Pennsylvania borough of Ashland is a statue of a mother seated in a chair. According to the historic marker is it said to symbolize “abiding affection for family and community.” The pedestal on which she sits is inscribed with words by poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge reading “A mother is the holiest thing alive.” Commissioned by the Ashland Boys Association to honor the mothers of Ashland, the statue’s design is based on the famous painting by James McNeil Whistler known as “Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter’s Mother” or simply, “Whistler’s Mother.” Nearby camping options could include Thousand Trails Hershey or Robin Hill Campground.
Madonna of the Trail (Various): There are actually 12 identical monuments known as the Madonna of the Trail set across the United States, stretching from coast to coast. On the east coast, the Madonna of the Trail statue can be found in Bethesda, Maryland (less than 100 miles from Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm); in the Midwest, the Madonna of the Trail can be found in Springfield, Ohio (about 40 miles from Thousand Trails Wilmington) and Richmond, Indiana (both Thousand Trails Indian Lakes and Thousand Trails Horseshoe Lakes are less than 60 miles from Richmond). On the West Coast, the statue can be found in Upland, California (about an hour from Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon). The statues, created by sculptor August Leimbach, were dedicated between 1928 and 1929 to symbolize the spirit of the American pioneer woman.
Pioneer Mother (San Francisco, California): Speaking of pioneers, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is home to the bronze sculpture “Pioneer Mother” that was originally created by sculptor Charles Grafly for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition and displayed again at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. It was moved to its permanent location in Golden Gate Park in 1940 and is “a tribute by the people of the West to the women who laid the foundation for their welfare.” Plan a stay at San Francisco RV Resort to view this monument.
Mother of Miami (Miami, Florida): Julia DeForrest Sturtevant Tuttle is considered one of the only female founders of a major American city. That city is Miami and Tuttle, an Ohio native, purchased 640 acres of land which eventually became the City of Miami. Tuttle believed the area could become a great center of trade and even managed to convince industrialist Henry Flagler to bring the railroad to the area. Tuttle is an inductee into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame and is also honored with a 10-foot bronze statue in her likeness in Miami’s Bayfront Park, where she overlooks the waters she believed could become a thriving seaport and a great city could rise from the swampland. Her skirt depicts several symbols important to Miami’s history. Camp at Encore Miami Everglades to see the Mother of Miami statue.
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- It’s not too early to plan for the summer camping season, so here’s a quick guide on how to make the most out of this summer season.
- Get your RV ready for season (and camera ready!) with these RV renovation tips and tricks!
- Explore the Thousand Trails Camping Pass and the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass
- Find more campgrounds at ThousandTrails.com.