At the invitation of President James Monroe, Lafayette traveled over 6000 miles by carriage, horseback, canal, and steamboat to each of America’s twenty-four states from 1824 to 1825.
Arriving by ship in New York, Lafayette continued on to Boston…Philadelphia…Baltimore…Washington DC…Yorktown and beyond, Lafayette was greeted with great fanfare from numerous crowds cheering him on!
Towns, streets, buildings, and babies were named after him.
OLD FRIENDS MEET AT MONTICELLO
Thomas Jefferson wrote to Lafayette: our little village of Charlottesville insists also on recieving you.
On November 4, crowds of people awaited on top of Monticello with eager expectation to see America’s friend, who helped win the American Revolution.
Hearing a bugle, they saw Lafayette arrive in a carriage pulled by four houses, followed by a large procession.
Mr. Jefferson received me with a strong emotion. I found him much aged, without doubt, after a separation of thirty-five years, but bearing marvelously well under his eighty one years of age, in full possession of all the vigor of his mind and heart which he has consecrated to the building of a good and fine university…. –Lafayette’s Memoirs
TOASTS AT A GRAND FETE
To-day [November 8] we visited this beautiful institution which occupies the honored old age of our illustrious friend. His daughter Mrs. Randolph lives with him; he is surrounded by a large family and his house is admirably located. We attended a public banquet in Charlottesville, MM. Jefferson and Madison were with us; the answer which Mr. Jefferson had read to the toast in his honor brought tears to everybody’s eyes. –Lafayette’s Memoirs
[W]hen I was stationed in his country for the purpose of cementing it’s friendship with ours and of advancing our mutual interests, this friend of both was my most zealous and powerful auxiliary and advocate. he made our cause his own as it was in truth that of his native country also. his influence and connections there were great. all doors of all departments were open to him at all times, to me only formally & at appointed times. In truth I only held the nail, he drove it. –Thomas Jefferson’s toast to Lafayette
GRAND CELEBRATION AT UVA ROTUNDA
As mentioned in Lafayette’s memoirs, he was feted by Jefferson at the University of Virginia’s Rotunda while it was still undergoing construction.
Founded and designed by Thomas Jefferson, he even watched the construction of it from his hilltop home.
Four hundred guests, including James Madison, were in attendance to that grand event!
Lafayette toasted Jefferson as the Father of the University of Virginia, which was later inscribed on his grave.
Reflecting on their partnership during the American Revolution, Jefferson toasted Lafayette: In truth I only held the nail, he drove it.
A few days later more festivities were held nearby at the Central Hotel.
After a grand eleven day visit with Jefferson, Lafayette continued his tour in nearby Orange, at the home of James Madison.
Adieus were said to both Jefferson and Madison, because another visit would be made before returning to France in 1825.
Meanwhile, there were many other states to visit with great fanfare to America’s friend and hero.
