Lafayette Tour Marker, Frankfort, Kentucky (KY-50)

President James Monroe invited the Marquis de Lafayette to visit the United States, his adopted country. Lafayette’s tour of all 24 states in 1824 and 1825 drew large crowds and sparked a renewal of patriotism. During the American Revolution, Lafayette’s intense advocacy of the American cause convinced King Louis XVI of France to send troops and ships, which proved crucial to the American victory at Yorktown. 

On May 14, 1825, General Lafayette was honored in Frankfort, Kentucky, with a grand procession, a ball at Weisiger’s Tavern, and visits with prominent citizens. Lafayette was formally received at Weisiger’s Tavern, the center of political and social activity in Frankfort, where a ball was held in his honor. As his carriage approached, ladies scattered roses and waved handkerchiefs from windows. The crowd erupted in cheers as he stepped out to meet the Governor. The procession had wound through St. Clair Street, Broadway, Washington Street, and Montgomery Street before arriving at the tavern. Lafayette also visited Margaretta Mason Brown, the wife of Senator John Brown. There is some evidence that Lafayette knew Brown and worked on behalf of the Continentals, conducting financial affairs in Havana, Cuba.

Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.