Lafayette Tour Marker, Woodbine, Maryland (MD-51)

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. 

This tour marked Lafayette’s Farewell Tour—a bold journey through the 24 states from 1824 to 1825, celebrating his significant contributions to the American Revolution and reviving national pride as the 50th anniversary of independence approached. Lisbon, a small community in Howard County, Maryland, was among the numerous towns that greeted Lafayette with enthusiastic and heartfelt tributes. Local residents prepared a triumphal arch to greet him on December 29, 1824, a common honor during the tour and a sign of the community’s pride and patriotism. A committee of local gentlemen formally received him as he passed through.

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