Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour
The first of the Lafayette Tour Bicentennial years is HERE! We're so excited about what's been planned by the
Philadelphia Committee as part of the national celebration!
August 16, 2024 will see the kick off this monumental 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.
Layfette will visit Philadelphia September 28th until October 5th.
Farewell Tour Details - Philadelphia
Over 30 organizations city-wide:
Independence National Historical Park, the Library Company, Free Library of Philadelphia, Museum of the American Revolution, and many, many, others, have committed to doing exhibitions, programming, or events relating to the Tour celebration.
Mark your Calendars
Events will kick off at the National Constitution Center with a grand parade to Independence Hall on Saturday, September 28 - 200 years to the day when 50,000 people lined the streets of Philadelphia to greet the returning Revolutionary hero.
"Lafayette" will be escorted by, among others, the First City Troop, just as he was in 1824. A Fete Lafayette will follow on Independence Mall, followed by additional events that day and throughout the weekend, including an evening "Soiree" - stay tuned for more information!
All Philadelphia events are posted below and will be updated frequently with new information.
What is the Bicentennial Tour?
Throughout 2024–2025, the American Friends of Lafayette 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.”
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 towns Lafayette visited, still brimming with pride that America’s favorite fighting Frenchman came through their municipality. Our goal is to educate the public about the roles played by both Lafayette and France in our war for independence. We will accomplish this through planned festivities, informative programing, and meaningful remembrances.
Who is Lafayette?
In 1824, amid a contentious Presidential election, President James Monroe invited the last surviving American Revolutionary War General, Lafayette, for a tour to celebrate the nation’s 50th anniversary and reignite patriotism. Many Americans knew of Lafayette’s involvement in other revolutions and his imprisonment during the French Revolution. A staunch advocate for human rights, religious freedom, women's equality, and abolition, Lafayette was welcomed with widespread affection across all 24 states.
His arrival in New York sparked four days of celebration, a response mirrored in every state he visited. Parades, balls, dinners, and other events honored him, extending his planned three-month tour to 13 months. Lafayette was warmly embraced as the “Nation’s Guest!”, with Americans everywhere expressing their deep admiration for him.
Visit www.lafayette200.org to learn more and to stay updated on the tour.