Program

Lafayette Trail

Subject

Event, People, Site

Location

149 Harper Ave, Morrisville, PA 19067, USA

Lat/Long

40.2081, -74.7796

Grant Recipient

The Lafayette Trail, Inc.

When America declared its independence on July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies were pulled into a conflict with one of the world’s most formidable powers, Great Britain. The colonies’ actions against Great Britain inspired a young French aristocrat and military officer, Marquis de Lafayette, to depart his native France to fight in the American Revolution. Lafayette served as a commander with the Continental Army throughout the war and helped secure French support for the American cause. This support played an integral part in securing American victory during the war.

Celebrated as a hero in the U.S. and France, Lafayette eventually returned to his home country. In 1824 Marquis de Lafayette was invited to visit the United States for the first time in 41 years. As an American hero and one of the only surviving commanders from the Revolution, Lafayette’s visit to the U.S. was highly anticipated and met with a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement. Lafayette’s Tour extended from 1824 to 1825. During this time he visited Washington D.C., as well as major cities and small communities across 24 states.

On the morning of September 27th, 1824, General Lafayette crossed the bridge over the Delaware River at Trenton, NJ. He was escorted across the river by the Governor of New Jersey, and met across the bridge in Morrisville, PA by the Governor of Pennsylvania, Andrew Shulze, along with the Philadelphia Committee of Arrangement and many local troops and citizens. Governor Shulze addressed Lafayette with an “impressive speech”, and an article quoted an observer as saying,

“The eloquent and feeling address of the governor; the affectionate reply of the General; the profound silence, the deep attention, the eager gaze of the beholders; the splendor of the military array, surrounding the field of reception; the spontaneous pouring out of the gratitude of the whole people, under a brilliant sky, which appeared to beam the smiles of Omnipotence upon the scene, produced altogether an effect of almost awful moral grandeur, which baffles description, and would put to blush the utmost efforts of European pageantry.” (National Advocate, October 1, 1824).

General Lafayette went on to have breakfast with Governor Shulze and then visited the mansion of Mr. Waddell in Morrisville. He then reviewed the assembled military. Finally, he was provided with six dark cream-colored horses to pull his barouche, and he proceeded on to Bristol, PA.