The Lafayette Trail

Today, we celebrate the bicentennial of Lafayette's visit to Red Hook, NY (Sept 19, 1824) by releasing the latest episode of our series Follow The Frenchmen. Watch it now! @wgpfoundation @CFouriscot @franceinnyc @franceintheus @BardCollege @julien_icher youtube.com/watch?v=NazByq…

Lafayette Celebrated (Again) in Watertown for Contributions to American Revolution watertownmanews.com/2026/04/24/laf… @LafayetteTrail

Happy National Historic Marker Weekend! We found a few of our oldies along our travels this past month and stopped by to make sure they are still bright and shiny! If you you have a Lafayette Trail marker in your community, feel free to check on it to see how it’s doing! #NationalHistoricMarkerWeekend #PomeroyFoundation @wgpfoundation

Today, dozens gathered at Bramhall Square in Portland, Maine, to permanently memorialize the significance of Lafayette’s visit to the city on June 24-25, 1825, as part of a free and open-to-the-public Lafayette250 public commemoration. During his time in Portland, Lafayette was hailed as a friend of Washington and an intrepid defender of American Independence. He was presented with an honorary degree from Bowdoin College and addressed by numerous officials, including Governor Parris and US Representative Stephen Longfellow. In his official replies, Lafayette often emphasized the need to pass on, unimpaired, an understanding of the national story and underlying principles to new generations as the only remedy to preserve the country's hard-fought freedoms. Lafayette entered Portland at Bramhall Hill. Appropriately so, the marker celebrating his visit to the city was placed at Bramhall Square, a short distance from where cannon salutes announced his arrival 201 years ago. We thank the City of Portland, Mayor Mark Dion, Portland Maine Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department, its director Alex Marshall, the Maine Historical Society, and its deputy director Jamie Rice, professor Herb Adams, Honorary Consul of France Severin Beliveau, the Maine Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Tate House Museum for their support of this event. The marker was donated to the city of Portland by @LafayetteTrail with funding from the @wgpfoundation. This Lafayette250 event marked the kickoff of Portland’s activities celebrating 250 years of independence. Thank you to Spectrum News Maine for your coverage of the event! @franceintheus @FranceinBoston @SpecNewsMaine @SoykurtM #Lafayette250

On June 24, 1825, General Lafayette was greeted on the Plains of Biddeford by the Committee of Arrangements for the Towns of Saco and Biddeford. Shortly thereafter, he was escorted to John Cleave’s Hotel in Saco by a cavalcade under the command of Colonel George Thacher. Across the bridge from Biddeford to Saco was erected an arch in honor of Lafayette bearing the inscriptions “Welcome La Fayette”, “Yorktown 17th-19th October, 1781” and “Versailles 5th and 6th October 1789”, stressing Lafayette’s historical role as a champion of freedom in Europe and the United States. The new State of Maine took great pride in greeting Lafayette. Numerous Revolutionary War veterans came to welcome Lafayette and pay tribute to his service for the young United States. Today in Saco, we dedicated our latest trail marker in Maine as part of a free and open to the public Lafayette250 function. We would like to recognize the great help of the Maine Historical Society, in particular Tiffany Link, who assisted a great deal with the research to pin down the location of Cleave’s Hotel, going back to early maps of Saco when it was called Pepperellborough. Thank you also to former interim city administrator Emily Prescott for her help in the validation process, as well as to Ryan Sommer and Steven Brown of the Saco Parks & Recreation Department. The Saco marker is our third in Maine. It was installed near the entrance of the iconic Riverfront Park, near Pepperell Square. We thank all who turned out in support of the event today, including members of the Maine Daughters of the American Revolution and Alliance Française. The marker was donated to the City of Saco Government by @LafayetteTrail with funding from the @wgpfoundation Come and join us tomorrow in Portland at 11 am at Bramhall Square for our next event! You can find more information on lafayette250.org/events #Lafayette250 @FranceinBoston @SoykurtM @franceintheus @mainehistory

This afternoon in Guild, NH, we unveiled our 195th Lafayette Trail historical marker with the full support of the community and adjacent Sunapee, known in 1825 as Wendell. This new commemorative marker represents our 17th in the Granite State and commemorates Lafayette’s travels through Wendell and his entrance into Newport on June 27, 1825. We would like to thank the Town of Newport, in particular Town Administrator Kyle Harris, for his support of this event. Thanks also to Mike Loftus, chairman of the Newport Heritage and Monuments/Memorials Commission. The Newport Historical Society was represented by its president Dean Stetson. Mrs. Laura McCrillis Kessler brought greetings on behalf of the Reprisal Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. Richard Baynes represented the NH Sons of the American Revolution, who generously provided colors for the ceremony as well as a gun salute. The Lafayette Trail was represented by its founder and president, Julien Icher. We were glad to welcome Virginia Drye, from the office of New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, who read an official proclamation declaring April 20, 2026, to be Lafayette250 historical marker unveiling day in NH, encouraging citizens to reflect on the values Lafayette championed throughout his life. Thank you also to John of the Sunapee Historical Society for bringing words of appreciation. The event was completely free of charge and open to the public. Thanks to everyone who attended our celebration in Newport this afternoon. The marker was donated to the town of Newport by The Lafayette Trail, Inc., with funding from @wgpfoundation. Congratulations! 🎊🎈🍾🎉 #Lafayette250 @FranceinBoston @franceintheus @LafayetteTrail @nhpr @SoykurtM @KellyAyotte @franceintheus

Despite 31 degrees and snow earlier today, we proceeded with our free and open to the public commemorative program in Barre VT at 10 am. Lafayette, accompanied by Vermont Governor Cornelius Van Ness, was greeted in Barre, VT, on June 28, 1825, by the Montpelier committee of arrangements with the chief marshal Col. Wiggins. The Frenchman was then escorted to Vermont’s capital city, where he spent the night. Our marker in Barre is #187 of our national trail and the fifth in the state of Vermont. Congratulations, Barre, on a successful day! #Lafayette250 @wgpfoundation @vermonthistory @VtHumanities @franceintheus @FranceinBoston @LafayetteTrail @SoykurtM

Part II of the rainy day! Locals braved the weather in Newbury Old Town, MA, to celebrate Lafayette’s visit to their community on August 31, 1824, on his way from Rowley to Portsmouth NH. The marker was dedicated on the Lower Green near the first Settlers Monument. It commemorates Lafayette’s crossing of the Parker River. Newbury Select Board members brought greetings and a tour of the historical 1870s schoolhouse was provided to attendees. The new sign was donated to the Town of Newbury, MA by @LafayetteTrail with funding from the @wgpfoundation. #Lafayette250 @FranceinBoston @SoykurtM @franceintheus

April 19 is never a bad day to be in Massachusetts, celebrating American history. This morning, we welcomed Watertown to our national historical trail honoring Lafayette’s contributions to American freedom. Our Lafayette250 program was free and open to the public and resulted in the unveiling of our 7th Revolutionary War marker, the first in the Bay State. This new sign would not have happened without the full dedication of many individuals and organizations, including City of Watertown, MA - Government, The Historical Society of Watertown MA, and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. Thanks, Joyce, Tyler, and Erika, for all your support! We are also grateful to the city council for supporting this new initiative preserving the important story of Lafayette’s connection to Watertown. This marker was donated to the city of Watertown by The Lafayette Trail, Inc., with funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. Thanks to everyone who attended the ceremony today. It was a bit cold and rainy, but the coffee was warm! Congratulations, Watertown! #Lafayette250 @SoykurtM @FranceinBoston @franceintheus @wgpfoundation @LafayetteTrail @WatertownMANews

Lafayette encamped in Tiverton with Continental troops shortly after the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778. Today, we ensured this story will be told for generations to come. Thank you to Town Administrator Patrick Jones for supporting this first Lafayette initiative in your community. We are thrilled to see the new monument erected across from Fort Barton, at a memorial adjacent to the municipal building. Well done and congratulations, Tiverton, for joining the national Lafayette Trail! The was donated to Town of Tiverton, Rhode Island by @LafayetteTrail. with funding from the @wgpfoundation. Thanks to everyone who attended the ceremony! #Lafayette250 @FranceinBoston @SoykurtM @franceintheus

Great morning in Bristol celebrating Lafayette’s time in the community following the Siege of Newport in the summer of 1778. Thanks to Catherine Zipf of the Bristol historical and Preservation Society for all her support and advocacy in town. We were pleased to be joined by Andrew Middleton of the The Map Center, Pawtucket Rhode Island, who shared with attendees a map of the colony in 1763, featuring Bristol. Bristol’s marker is #3 on our revolutionary war series! Congratulations Town of Bristol, RI Government on your new marker! The sign was donated to the town by The Lafayette Trail, Inc. with funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. It can be found on the northern end of Independence Park. #Lafayette250 @franceintheus @FranceinBoston @SoykurtM @LafayetteTrail

Fantastic time in Nassau today! So glad to see many friends. Welcome one to @LafayetteTrail! @franceinnyc @CFouriscot @franceintheus @wgpfoundation

In Lansingburgh on July 1, 1825, Lafayette visited Rev Dr. Blatchford and reunited with Mrs. Adancourt, widow of an officer of the French army. According to the Lansingburgh Gazette, she and her children had traveled to the US with Lafayette aboard the Hermione in 1780. Today, we honored such reunion in an official Lafayette250 function free and open to the public held in collaboration with The Lansingburgh Historical Society. Thank you to John Ward, co-president of the society for his support of this celebration. We were glad to be joined by NYS Assemblymember John McDonald, who brought greetings and reminded attendees of the importance of celebrating history during the America250 commemorative cycle. The marker was donated to the Lansingburgh Historical Society by @LafayetteTrail with funding from the @wgpfoundation @CFouriscot @franceinnyc @franceintheus #Lafayette250

MARKER WEEKEND 2026: @LafayetteTrail Edition Have you visited your Lafayette Trail marker recently? National Historic Marker Weekend is a great opportunity to check in on these important sites and give them a little care. From Friday, April 24, through Sunday, April 26, communities nationwide are putting historical markers in the spotlight. If you have a local marker on The Lafayette Trail, consider making it your destination during National Historic Marker Weekend. It is a meaningful way to reconnect with the story of Lafayette’s journey and ensure these markers remain in great condition for visitors. Whether your marker was installed recently or has been in place for a few years, a quick, gentle cleaning can make a big difference. It is also a great excuse to gather a group, revisit the site, and share your experience. Volunteering is easy and can be done anytime during the weekend. Be sure to take a photo and share your Lafayette Trail marker using #NationalHistoricMarkerWeekend and #markerweekend2026 to join the nationwide effort. Sign up to participate through the @wgpfoundation's website: wgpfoundation.org/national-histo…

Thanks to all the troopers who showed up today at Sleepy Hole Park despite "suffolkating" weather! (90+ degrees)! Our Lafayette250 event resulted in the dedication of our 10th Revolutionary War Lafayette Trail marker, the second in Virginia. Our thanks go out to Suffolk Tourism and Suffolk, VA 250 for your continued support. Thanks also to the Virginia DAR and SAR for supporting this event. Finally, our gratitude goes out to Stillwater Tea House for providing refreshments to our attendees! In March 1781, Lafayette arrived in Virginia, dispatched to counteract Benedict Arnold and British forces amassing there. He rapidly adopted a careful military style, harassing redcoats continuously without ever fully committing his limited troops, thereby keeping Virginia as an open battleground. Lafayette’s tactics in Virginia were grounded in a fine understanding of new world culture and the incessant need for continued action and grit to maintain military discipline among his troops. By March 20, 1781, Lafayette had arrived at Gen. Muhlenberg’s encampment, scouting for British positions, gathering intelligence without risking his forces. Thanks to Lafayette’s work in Virginia, the state remained contested until conditions were met for the combined French American assault, leading to the victory at Yorktown. Today’s marker narrates a story of discipline and patience at a pivotal moment during the Revolutionary War. Thanks to everyone who attended! The marker was donated to the city of Suffolk by @LafayetteTrail with funding from the @wgpfoundation. As a reminder, every single one of our events is free and open to the public! If you are near us when we are doing an event, come and join us! No admission fees, no registration, just free fun! For more on semiquincetennial celebrations, please visit lafayette250.org/events @franceintheus @Monvoisin_C

HALIFAX, NC - New marker commemorates Lafayette's journey to military service A new marker unveiled Sunday marks Halifax as part of the Lafayette Trail, commemorating his passing through the town around July 15, 1777. The marker acknowledges that the general was on his way to volunteer his military service at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The @wgpfoundation helps to fund the markers across half of the United States, he said. Documentation of the brief visit came in the form of a letter from Major Jean Baptiste Ashe to Governor Richard Caswell. “That letter mentions that Lafayette visited a few days before July 18, 1777. Based on the document, we were able to pursue the donation of our second Lafayette Trail marker in Halifax,” Julien Icher, founder and president of @LafayetteTrail, said. The first marker commemorates Lafayette’s visit to Mary Montfort, the widow of Willie Jones, in 1825. Full article at the link below: rrspin.com/news/11662-new… @FranceAtlanta @franceintheus @ALDesjonqueres

Awesome day continuing our Lafayette250 work alongside friends, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Halifax Resolves. Congratulations to Visit Halifax, Historic Halifax, the Friends of Historic Halifax, Lafayette250 Celebration - Halifax, NC Historical Halifax Restoration Association, Halifax, NC, @LafayetteTrail for a spectacular 3-day program of patriotic celebrations. I enjoyed meeting local and state officials, including the Halifax Co Commissioners, Congressman @DonDavisNC, and Governor @NC_Governor Josh Stein. Lafayette visited Halifax, ca. July 15, 1777, on his way to Philadelphia, where he was praised as a French marquis and a friend of Benjamin Franklin. As the locals said themselves, he came to see them before meeting George Washington! The only known copy of the Halifax Revolves was on display at the state historic site headquarters museum. Off to Suffolk, Virginia, for our next event on Wednesday. More at lafayette250.org/events. Congratulations, Halifax, on a job well done! @America250NC @FranceAtlanta @ALDesjonqueres @wgpfoundation @franceintheus @visithalifaxnc

Come and join us in Nassau, NY, on Friday, April 17, at 3 pm ET!

New Lafayette Trail marker to spotlight general’s 1784 journey through Watertown The City of Watertown, MA - Government will mark one of Marquis de Lafayette’s Revolutionary War-era stops with a public ceremony unveiling a new Lafayette Trail Marker on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 10 AM, along the path next to 394 Main Street, according to the City of Watertown. City officials said the commemoration will highlight Lafayette’s “multiple connections to Watertown” and will be held in partnership with The Lafayette Trail and The Historical Society of Watertown, MA. The city noted that the event follows Lafayette’s visit more than two centuries ago: “On October 15, 1784, General Lafayette was feted in Watertown by fellow Revolutionary War officers as he traveled from Hartford to Boston.” After “enjoying a meal and much camaraderie with his hosts,” the city said, “Lafayette resumed his journey east.” Opening remarks at the April 19th program will be delivered by City Council President Mark Sideris, along with leaders from The Lafayette Trail and the Historical Society of Watertown, the city said. The event is free and open to the public, the City of Watertown said. “We hope to see you there on Sunday, April 19!” msn.com/en-us/news/us/… @franceintheus @FranceinBoston @LafayetteTrail @SoykurtM @watertowngov #lafayette250

ELKTON — A ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon near the new water tower on Frenchtown Road to unveil a marker recalling the visit by General Lafayette to Elkton in 1824. "Lafayette's legacy reminds us that the ideals of liberty and civic responsibility continue to shape our community," Mayor Alt said. "This marker symbolizes Elkton's connection to our nation's founding." Cecil County Executive Adam Streight appreciated the history and how this small area of Cecil County had a big role in the formation of the country. He also noted that Lafayette was "a champion to liberty and human rights." Julien Icher, a native of France, told those gathered that it was no accident that these new markers – this is the fifth to be erected in Maryland – are also red, white, and blue in color. "The colors are there because you played a role in both our revolutions," Icher said, pointing out that the French flag is also red, white, and blue. cecildaily.com/news/lafayette… @wgpfoundation @CecilHistory @Cecil_whig @franceintheus @Monvoisin_C @LafayetteTrail

Come and join us on Wednesday, April 29 @ 2 pm ET in New London, Connecticut. This new Lafayette250 program will result in the installation of The Lafayette Trail, Inc.'s 18th historic marker in the Constitution State. The program is free and open to the public. More info on lafayette250.org/events @franceinnyc @franceintheus @ShawMansion1756 @wgpfoundation @LafayetteTrail @CFouriscot