Lexington

Madonna of the Trail, August Leimbach, 1928
Here are three reasons whey Missouri is often called the gateway to the west.

1. Missouri was where Lewis and Clark began their expedition across the Western half of the United States.
2. St. Joseph, Missouri, is the most eastern point of the Pony Express the mail carrier that began in 1860. If you were to send a letter from St. Joseph, it would make it to Sacramento, California, in eight days by horse.
3. Two popular routes for the western bound settlers, the Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe Trail, originate in Independence, Missouri.

With so many pioneers traveling through Missouri, it is easy to understand why a tribute to women pioneers is necessary.