In 1824 the United States was in the throes of a contentious presidential election. Sound familiar? That year, there were four major candidates when voting began (John Calhoun had dropped out for lack of support), and the Democratic-Republican party, which had won the previous six elections, was splintering. In hopes of easing tensions and reminding citizens of the revolutionary spirit and patriotism that had secured the nation, President James Monroe suggested inviting the marquis de Lafayette, the last living major general of the American Revolution, to tour the country.
A close confidant of George Washington, Lafayette had come to be seen not just as a military hero but as a symbol of human rights, including rights for women, and of religious freedom. He arrived in August 1824 for what was scheduled as a three-to-four-month visit but turned into thirteen months and took him to all twenty-four states then comprising the United States. Everywhere, he was hailed triumphantly by people of every social and economic stratum with souvenirs, parades, balls, dinners, and other celebratory events. (The election itself was ultimately resolved in the House of Representatives on February 25, 1825, with John Quincy Adams named the sixth president of the United States—with the four candidates and Lafayette all in reportedly cordial attendance at a dinner at the White House that evening.)
To commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of Lafayette’s visit, the Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library has organized On Tour: America’s Revolutionary Rock Star, showcasing an array of souvenir items—buttons and medallions, prints and ceramics, textiles and costume accessories, even furniture, such as a vernacular fancy chair with “lafayette” stenciled across the front of the seat—from its extensive collection of items related to the general. As the museum’s founder, Henry Francis du Pont, was a passionate collector of Americana, its holdings of Lafayette material is surpassed only by the number of items related to George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. But rarely does one have an opportunity to appreciate how history, art, and popular culture come together as they do in this show honoring Lafayette’s enduring legacy.
Library has organized On Tour: America’s Revolutionary Rock Star, showcasing an array of souvenir items—buttons and medallions, prints and ceramics, textiles and costume accessories, even furniture, such as a vernacular fancy chair with “lafayette” stenciled across the front of the seat—from its extensive collection of items related to the general. As the museum’s founder, Henry Francis du Pont, was a passionate collector of Americana, its holdings of Lafayette material is surpassed only by the number of items related to George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. But rarely does one have an opportunity to appreciate how history, art, and popular culture come together as they do in this show honoring Lafayette’s enduring legacy.
To even more thoroughly mark the moment, numerous organizations around the country have planned exhibitions, reenactments, lectures, and other events to celebrate the bicentennial of the “Farewell Tour” for the old revolutionary. Many are spearheaded by the American Friends of Lafayette, which has organized a thirteen-month-long series of events in towns and cities in all the states Lafayette visited, following his exact itinerary. It was kicked off in New York City in August with three days of boat and walking tours, receptions, and other entertainments; in November and December events are planned throughout Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Details about these and the hundreds of other scheduled events can be found at the websitelafayette200.org.
On Tour: America’s Revolutionary Rock Star • Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library, Delaware • to June 1, 2025 • winterthur.org
