Lafayette Tour Marker, Shelbyville, Kentucky (KY-114)
627 Main Street
Shelbyville, KY 40065
United States
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.
The Marquis de La Fayette and party left Louisville, embarking on a tour of central Kentucky. They journeyed down the Old State Pike to Shelbyville for the night. On May 13, 1825, General Lafayette was warmly received in Shelbyville, Kentucky, where he dined and attended an evening ball held in his honor.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.
