The woman in the center is Columbia, basically the United States in human form. Columbia moves from the West, leading settlers who follow her, showing the journey on the Oregon trail. She has a telephone wire in one hand and a book in the other. This symbolizes the growth in knowledge in the people and the United States. As seen on the right, are farmers that have already settled. As Lady Columbia moves westward, indigenous people and a herd of buffalo are seen fleeing her and the settlers; which is showing how the settlers are chasing away the indigenous people and even killing them, along with the buffalo. This whole painting shows the growth of the United States.