Lafayette’s Farewell Tour Bicentennial Celebration

This year Annapolis celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s Farewell Tour of America in 1824 – 1825. Invited as a “Guest of the Nation” by President James Monroe, Lafayette was welcomed with much enthusiasm and celebration by Americans in all 24 states in the Union. As the last surviving general of the American Revolution, Lafayette inspired a patriotic retrospective for Americans in the post-Revolutionary War period.

The city of Annapolis has long held affection for the Marquis de Lafayette. From his early days as a young, idealistic solider to later in life as a seasoned statesman, Lafayette had a personal connection to the capital city of Maryland that is still honored today.

Collection of Historic Annapolis, Inc.

In December of 1824, after a 40-year absence, Lafayette made one last trip to Annapolis accompanied by his son, George Washington Lafayette. As part of his 13-month farewell “Grand Tour” of the United States, he spent four days in Annapolis in December 1824, allowing a new generation of townspeople a glimpse of one of the nation’s most revered heroes. Festivities included a military procession and exhibition, an official reception in the State House, and a dinner and ball at St. John’s College.  

In celebration of Lafayette’s return visit, his likeness appeared on everything from banners to gloves, plates, and pitchers such as this. These souvenirs provided tangible connections with an icon of the past. 

Events

Friday, December 13 – Sunday, December 15

• Pop-up Exhibit at the Museum of Historic Annapolis: The Marquis de Lafayette, 11 am – 3 pm
• Open House Weekend at additional Museums throughout Annapolis:

• Hammond Harwood House, 19 Maryland Avenue (admission fee)
• United States Naval Academy Museum, (Preble Hall), corner of Maryland Avenue and Decatur Road. Valid government ID required for access to Naval Academy grounds (Saturday – Sunday, no admission fee)
• Watermark, 188 Main Street, Annapolis 12:00pm – 4:00pm (Saturday only)  
• Chase Lloyd House Dependency, corner of Maryland Avenue & King George Street (Sunday only)

Saturday, December 14 

• Meet James Lafayette! at the Museum of Annapolis, 11 am – 3 pm
• Storytime at the Museum: A Spy Called James (The True Story of James Lafayette) at the Museum of Historic Annapolis, 11 am and 1 pm
• Children’s Games from Long Ago presented by Chesapeake Children’s Museum at Visit Annapolis, 26 West Street, 10 am – 12 pm
• Colonial Walking Tour with Lafayette Focus (USNA add-on option) with Watermark, 188 Main Street, 10 am
• Book Talk and Signing by Bruce Mowday, author of “The Battle of Brandywine”, St. John’s College Bookstore at Edensword Hall, 60 College Avenue, 11 am – 12:30 pm
• Open House and Author’s Storytime with Selene Castrovilla at Watermark’s Tour Office, 188 Main Street, 12 pm – 4 pm (book talks at 1 pm and 3 pm)
• Maryland State House Tour with Lafayette Focus with Watermark, 188 Main Street, 1:30 pm 
• Music for Marquis de Lafayette at Chesapeake Children’s Museum, 25 Silopanna Road, 2 pm and 3 pm
• Lafayette in Annapolis-200 Years Ago – Special Tour at the Hammond-Harwood House, 19 Maryland Avenue, 3 pm 
• SOLD OUT – Marquis de Lafayette Holiday Tea
• A Night of Splendour and Elegance: Lafayette Bicentennial Grand Ball at McDowell Hall, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Sunday, December 15

• Brunch with General Lafayette and Mary Nevett Steele, with a Lecture by Glenn Campbell at O’Brien’s Restaurant, 113 Main Street, 9:30 am
• Colonial Walking Tour with Lafayette Focus (USNA add-on option) with Watermark, 188 Main Street, 10 am
• ASO Youth Orchestra Presents Music of the Time of Marquis de Lafayette at Chase-Lloyd House Dependency, corner of King George Street and Maryland Avenue, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm (free and open to public)
• The Blue Jays Present “Lafayette” and Other Period Music at Chase-Lloyd House Dependency, corner of King George Street and Maryland Avenue, 1:30 pm – 3 pm (free and open to public)
• Maryland State House Tour with Lafayette Focus with Watermark, 188 Main Street, 1:30 pm
• Bicentennial Concert at State House for General Lafayette with David and Ginger Hildebrand, Maryland State House, 100 State Circle, 2:30 pm (free and open to public, state ID required to enter building)