Lafayette Comes to Troy
Join Us…
for a day of activities celebrating the bicentennial of Major General Lafayette's triumphant return tour to America.
On September 18th, 2024, the City of Troy will be celebrating the bicentennial of Lafayette’s return to the county seat as part of a national Bicentennial celebration. The hundreds of events planned will trace Lafayette’s footstep on the exact dates and in the exact order he followed on his tour of America as the “Guest of the Nation” between 1824 and 1825.
Celebrations in Troy will include walking the route Lafayette took upon his arrival to the city, a talk given by Dr. Jennifer Burns of SUNY Albany on abolition and the local Black community, and much, much more! Plus, enjoy a boxed lunch at the Hart Cluett Museum.
Be sure to stay tuned for information on HCM’s upcoming exhibit on Lafayette’s visits to Troy and his impact on our community, nation, and beyond.
To review and register for the day’s events, use the button below! For any questions, email: admin@hartcluett.org.
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Lafayette sailed from France to the US for over three weeks arriving in New York harbor in mid August 1824. People had been expecting his arrival for some time with great anticipation. Many plans to welcome the “Nation’s Guest” were made and ready to go. As news of his arrival spread from New York City and communities along Long Island Sound where he first traveled into New England, the upper Hudson River Valley cities and towns began to make plans for his arrival as well.
As Lafayette arrived at West Point, then Poughkeepsie and on up to Albany by September 17th, the citizens of Troy and surrounding Rensselaer County geared up for his day-long visit on the 18th. Join us 200 years later for a once in a lifetime celebration of the man and his lasting impact on both local and global human rights and independence movements.
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Throughout 2024–2025, the American Friends of Lafayette (AFL) will host educational programming across the United States and in France to commemorate the Bicentennial of Lafayette’s return to America as the “Guest of the Nation.”
Beginning on August 16, 2024, we will start the thirteen-month bicentennial celebration of Lafayette’s triumphant return tour of the United States in New York City. During the next thirteen months, we will follow Lafayette’s footsteps through the then existing 24 states in the exact order he traveled in 1824 and 1825.
There will be hundreds of planned events, both in large cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Savannah, as well as in the multitude of small cities and towns Lafayette visited, like Troy, NY. The AFL's goal is to educate the public about the roles played by both Lafayette and France in our country's war for independence.
You will be amazed at the many connections that can be made between Lafayette’s visit in 1824 and today’s world. Many of the same issues are still being worked out and our political life is also in a particularly divisive period. We can always learn from the past, particularly in this case from the life and global impact of Lafayette and his visit.
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In 1824, the United States was in the throes of a very contentious national Presidential election and our country was left divided and in turmoil. As a way to celebrate the nation’s 50th anniversary and reignite its patriotism, President James Monroe thought it would be a good idea to bring back the last living American General from the Revolutionary War for a short tour of popular cities.
At the time, many U.S. citizens were aware that Lafayette had been involved in other revolutions in Europe and South America and was, in fact, imprisoned for over 5 years as a result of the French Revolution. During and after the American Revolution, Lafayette strongly supported human rights for all, especially religious freedom and equality for women. He was an abolitionist and always fought for Liberty, Equality, and Freedom.
Upon his return to the United States, Lafayette was welcomed with universal affection and gratitude by Americans in all 24 states. Everyone enthusiastically embraced the last surviving general of the American Revolution.
His arrival in New York inspired four days and nights of continuous celebration—a response replicated during his visits to each of the other states. Everywhere were reported parades, balls, dinners, and other celebratory events hosted in Lafayette’s honor. His three-month tour turned into 13 months as he was welcomed by all as the “Nation’s Guest!”. Indeed, Lafayette loved America and, without a doubt, Americans everywhere loved him right back!
