The Lafayette Trail

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The Lafayette Trail

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Welcome to the Official Page of The Lafayette Trail, Inc. The Lafayette Trail, Inc. Please, visit our website at thelafayettetrail.org

is a nonprofit organization with the mission to document, map, and mark General Lafayette's footsteps during his Farewell Tour of the United States in 1824 and 1825. It aims to educate the public about the national significance of Lafayette's Tour and to promote a broader understanding of Lafayette's numerous contributions to American independence and national coherence in preparation for the 2024-2025 tour bicentennial celebrations.

09/21/2026

Congratulations, Historic Summerseat of Bucks County, and welcome to The Lafayette Trail

William G. Pomeroy Foundation

09/20/2026

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of joining forces with Historic Summerseat of Bucks County to celebrate Lafayette’s September 27, 1824, stop in Morrisville, PA, the first stop he made in Pennsylvania during his grand tour of the US in 1824-1825, where he was greeted by PA Governor John Schulze.

Summerseat served as headquarters for George Washington (December 8-14, 1776), following the retreat of his army through New Jersey and across the Delaware River in the aftermath of the battle of Long Island. It is there that Washington began shaking the counteroffensive that would culminate in the surprise attack on Trenton. Washington’s strategic vision helped restore confidence among the rebels during a difficult period that Thomas Paine would famously describe in the American Crisis as the “times that try men’s souls”.

We were pleased to be joined in the occasion by no other than General Washington himself (portrayed by Sam Davis), who was gracious enough to provide attendees with a brief explanation of his friendship with Lafayette.

Karen Kane, president of Historic Summerseat of Bucks County, offered general greetings. Annie Milionis of Historic Summerseat shared insights into Lafayette’s September 27, 1824, visit to Morrisville. Julien Icher, president of The Lafayette Trail, shared additional insights about Lafayette’s life story and his unwavering attachment to principles of American republicanism. A letter of commendation was read on behalf of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

A public lecture exploring Lafayette’s contributions to American freedom during the Revolutionary war immediately followed the marker unveiling ceremony.

We would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to the entire team at Historic Summerseat for a wonderful collaboration, particularly to Annie Milionis for her dedication to this project.

The marker will proudly stand as a material reminder of Morrisville’s connection to Lafayette, the involvement of the Waddell family, and the friendship between George Washington and Lafayette.

The Lafayette marker was donated by The Lafayette Trail with funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The public function was entirely free of charge and open to the general public.

For more Lafayette250 events, please visit our live calendar of events at lafayette250.org/events

Bucks250PA

09/06/2026

In 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette, born September 6th, 1757, returned to the United States nearly 50 years after helping George Washington during the American Revolution. For the next 13 months, Lafayette was treated as a rockstar as he traveled to all 24 states. Dozens of counties, towns, streets, and parks were named in his honor, and he laid so many cornerstones for monuments, banks, and mills, including the Bunker Hill Monument at Boston National Historical Park, that he must have traveled with his own cart of rocks. Not bad for a French teenager who just wanted to volunteer for the Continental Army.

08/08/2026

During his stay in Washington City in the winter of 1824 and 1825, General Lafayette made several excursions to nearby states. One of them was the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The state legislature had invited him to visit Harrisburg.

On January 29, transiting via Baltimore, Lafayette proceeded to York. The next day, on January 30, on his way to Harrisburg, he was welcomed in Middletown, where he dined, accompanied by a committee from York.

The visit occurred at an important time in the timeline of the tour, being just over a week before John Quincy Adams would be selected as president by a house vote on February 9. Visiting Pennsylvania, Lafayette was able to see firsthand the rampant political animosity surrounding the presidential election of 1824.

We were thrilled today to memorialize Lafayette’s visit to Middletown for posterity with the formal dedication of our newest Lafayette Trail marker. You can see the new sign at the NE corner of E Main and N Union Streets.

This marker was donated to the Middletown Borough by The Lafayette Trail, Inc., with funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

Numerous Middletown Borough officials attended this historic event, including Mayor Angela Lloyd, and Councilor Jenny Miller. We were pleased to welcome Freemasons from the general Harrisburg area also. District Deputy Grandmaster Stephen L. Kiessling provided greetings on behalf of the fraternal order, and emphasized in his remarks the significance of Lafayette’s friendship with George Washington, a fellow Mason.

As with every event sponsored by The Lafayette Trail, the public function was entirely free of charge and open to the general public. Congratulations, Middletown, and welcome to the national Lafayette Trail!

For more Lafayette250 events, please visit our live calendar of events at lafayette250.org/events

07/23/2026

Thank you, William G. Pomeroy Foundation!

07/15/2026

What a stunning evening at the residence of the French ambassador to celebrate Bastille Day! Attendees were able to walk though the residence and take a look at the newly decorated rooms, some of which feature Lafayette memorabilia!

The performance from the Chasseurs alpins band was one for the ages.

07/13/2026

On June 9, 1825, at 4:30 am, General Lafayette arrived at Onondaga Court House, where he was addressed by General Wood and greeted local residents in assembly. The reception, reported by the Onondaga Register, emphasized how Americans regarded Lafayette in 1825. The Frenchman was praised for the “meritorious services” he “rendered our infant republic”.
The language used by Onondaga officials celebrated the truth and triumph of natural rights over British usurpation and despotism.

Countyhood emanated from Revolutionary War victories, in particular in this part of the country against the nations of the Haudenosaunee allied with the British, and Lafayette epitomized the sacrifices of the founding generation, who fought for their rights secure such rights for posterity.
Today, at the Onondaga Free Library, we dedicated our latest Lafayette Trail historical marker in collaboration with the board of directors of the library.

Dedicating a new marker is always special, but doing so at a place cultivating the education of the general public is even more meaningful, as it taps into Lafayette’s strong belief that an educated citizenry was essential to the long-term prosperity of the United States.

We would like to thank Susan Morgan, director of the Onondaga Free Library, Scott Lipkowitz, assistant director, and Yvonne Slate, Onondaga Free Library board of trustees president.

Susan Morgan and Yvonne Slate provided greetings from the Onondaga Free Library. Julien Icher presented the national Lafayette Trail and gave a brief overview of the meaning of Lafayette’s visit to the US in 1824-25. Natalie Williams-Dardaris, Town of Onondaga Historian, shared remarks about Lafayette’s visit to Onondaga. Finally, Anastasia Sopchak brought greetings from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, with its founder Bill Pomeroy in attendance for the occasion.

The new marker design honors the national colors of France and the U.S. and is #206 on our national series. To find more information about our national system of historic markers and upcoming semiquincentennial activities, please visit lafayette250.org.

The marker was donated by The Lafayette Trail, Inc. to the Onondaga Free Library with funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The program was entirely free of charge and open to the general public.

Congratulations, Onondaga Free Library! Welcome to the Lafayette Trail!

Onondaga Historical Association Lafayette250 Celebration - Onondaga, NY Jessica Dapson for Onondaga County Legislator Town of Onondaga

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Bethesda, MD

Website

https://lafayette250.org/

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