Although he was born in France, the Marquis de Lafayette was an important figure during the American Revolution and was later invited by President James Monroe for an all-expenses-paid return to the United States between 1824 and 1825. Lafayette's trip included stops in both Lancaster County and western Chester County.

To commemorate the 200th anniversary visit, a series of special activities has been planned throughout 2025. "For the past three years, we have been planning events that follow in the exact footsteps of Lafayette when he visited 200 years ago during his Farewell Tour of America," explained Kathleen Hood, coordinator of the Lafayette200 Bicentennial in Western Chester County and Lancaster County. "He was going to stay three months but stayed 13 months traveling to 24 states, which is what America had at the time. He traveled over 6,000 miles during that journey."

"We have researched what he did, where he went and with whom he met, and we are re-creating his journey as historically accurate as possible," she added.

Events will begin with Lafayette200 Marquis Mondays, a free virtual program that will highlight various authors of books related to Lafayette.

The first Marquis Monday program will take place on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. when author Alan Hoffman will discuss his book, "Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825: Journal of a Voyage to the United States." The next program will be on Jan. 20 and will feature author Diane Shaw, who will present a program about her book "A True Friend of the Cause: Lafayette and the Antislavery Movement."

"The speakers will be live in a Zoom webinar format," Hood explained. "They will focus on the books they have written, and there will be a time for questions and answers at the end of each presentation."

The author programs will run on selected Mondays through June 30. "We have 13 authors," Hood noted. "I researched their contact information ... and asked them if they would be willing to be part of the series. The response was beautiful. There were so many who wanted to join in."

Information about where to obtain copies of the speakers' books will be provided at each session.

The Lafayette commemoration was initiated by the American Friends of Lafayette, which established a Bicentennial Committee. The committee consists of more than 500 individuals representing the 24 states that Lafayette visited.

Hood is the coordinator of the local committee, which has been researching Lafayette's activities. "Lafayette was driven by carriage to a Colonial tavern in East Fallowfield Township. A delegation from Lancaster County met there and after breakfast took him through Parkesburg and into Lancaster County," noted Hood. "They stopped at historic White Chimneys. Then they went west after a quick stop in Paradise."

To commemorate these events, "Breakfast with Lafayette" will be held at the Stottsville Inn in East Fallowfield in July. Other July events will include a bicentennial parade in Parkesburg and a tea at White Chimneys in Gap.

The goal of the committee is to educate Americans about the life of Lafayette. "He was a Revolutionary War hero who came from France as a 19-year-old man who wanted to join the uprising," Hood explained. "Because he was a wealthy aristocrat and had money, he bought his own ship and made his way to Philadelphia, where he presented himself and asked permission to be an officer in the war effort. He had no combat or extensive military experience, and he turned out to be a pivotal general in the Revolutionary War."

For more information about the commemorative events and to register for the Lafayette200 Marquis Monday virtual speaker programs, visit https://lafayette200pa.org. Those with questions may email Hood at kadaholo@verizon.net.