Description

Sturbridge to Commemorate the 200th Anniversary 

of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour On September 3

This year marks the Bicentennial celebration of the Marquis de Lafayette’s Farewell Tour of the United States in 1824! Throughout that year-long tour of all 24 states, Americans honored Lafayette with a parade and great fanfare at almost every stop he made. Local craftspeople also produced many types of commemorative memorabilia, such as the pictured drum, baby shoes, and ribbons, now in the Old Sturbridge Village Museum Collection. When Lafayette toured the state of Massachusetts, his final stop was in the Town of Sturbridge, where he was greeted by a martial band, the Town’s artillery company, and thousands of civilians.

Commemorative Ceremony on the Sturbridge Town Common

Join the Sturbridge Historical Society and Old Sturbridge Village on September 3, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. for a commemorative event on the Sturbridge Town Common, the exact ground where Lafayette stopped. An actor portraying Lafayette will be greeted by costumed interpreters portraying veterans of the Revolution, members of the Sturbridge Artillery, who will stand by with their cannon, and the musicians from the Uxbridge Grenadiers. There will be a triumphal arch, toasts by costumed interpreters from Old Sturbridge Village, fife and drum music, as well as performances by the OSV Singers and Dancers. Experience the closest thing to the actual events that took place in 1824 here in Sturbridge! This ceremony is FREE and open to the public! 

This commemorative event is part of The American Friends of Lafayette’s 2024-2025 Bicentennial Tour, which will take place across the 24 states that Lafayette visited on his Farewell Tour. For more details about The American Friends of Lafayette and other Bicentennial Tour programming, please visit lafayette200.org.

Banquet at the Historic Publick House

At 7:30 p.m., there will be a banquet commemorating Lafayette’s visit to Massachusetts and New Hampshire at the Publick House, which is one of the buildings that Lafayette actually visited in 1824. The dinner is the Publick House’s distinctive “Yankee Dinner Buffet.” Alan Hoffman, President of American Friends of Lafayette and translator of the account written by Lafayette’s secretary, will reflect on the contrast between the original tour and its just completed recreation. There will be an additional discussion of Lafayette’s human rights record. Members of the Colonel Timothy Bigelow chapter of the DAR will do a presentation on “Lafayette and the Ladies.”

Tickets are $75/person and pre-registration is required. Limited spaces are available!

Purchase Tickets to the Lafayette Banquet at the Publick House Here

Lafayette Book Discussion, Wednesday, August 21, 6:30 to 8:00

Join Sandy Gibson-Quigley in discussing the book Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell in anticipation of the event to be held on the Sturbridge Common on September 3. Copies of the book are available at the Library, and downloadable on Libby.

About Lafayette’s Tour and visit to Sturbridge

When America declared its independence on July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies were pulled into a conflict with one of the world’s most formidable powers, Great Britain. The colonies’ actions against Great Britain inspired a young French aristocrat and military officer, Marquis de Lafayette, to depart his native France to fight in the American Revolution. Lafayette served as a commander with the Continental Army throughout the war and helped secure French support for the American cause. This support played an integral part in securing American victory during the war.

Celebrated as a hero in the U.S and France, Lafayette eventually returned to his home country.

In 1824, Marquis de Lafayette was invited to visit the United States for the first time in 41 years. As an American hero and one of the only surviving commanders from the Revolution, Lafayette’s visit to the U.S. was highly anticipated and met with a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement. Lafayette’s Tour extended from 1824 to 1825. During this time, he visited Washington, D.C., as well as major cities and small communities across 24 states.

On September 3, 1824, General Lafayette met with veterans and citizens in a procession to the Common and Porter’s stage house. The admiration engendered by the surviving veterans was recounted in the September 15, 1824 edition of the Massachusetts Spy:

“Near the middle of the procession, and within the lines, were arranged a large company of revolutionary officers and soldiers, some of whom had served under LaFayette. To each one the General was introduced. The scene was touching. As they grasped the hand of the venerable Hero, in a number of instances the tear was seen to roll down the furrowed cheek of the veteran soldier.”

Following the brief visit, Lafayette continued his tour to Hartford, Connecticut.