Lafayette Tour Marker, Jeffersonton, Virginia (VA-93)

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. 

Lafayette arrived in Jeffersonton, Virginia on the morning of August 23, 1825. He was greeted by about 50 soldiers and citizens, and at least 100 local townspeople, a remarkable turnout for a rural community. The welcome was enthusiastic but informal—typical of the smaller towns on his route, where residents took great pride in honoring him personally.

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