Lafayette Visit Marker, Williamsburg, Virginia (V-62)

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 traveled from Yorktown—where he had spent October 19–21 commemorating the anniversary of the British surrender—and reached Williamsburg on October 22, 1824. Lafayette arrived in Williamsburg to a grand, deeply ceremonial welcome that celebrated his Revolutionary War service and his personal ties to the city. He was honored by the College of William & Mary, greeted by immense crowds, escorted in procession, and honored with speeches, music, and civic celebrations.

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