Program

Lafayette Trail

Subject

Site

Location

2000 Belmont Mansion Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA

Lat/Long

39.991610195851, -75.212737030326

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.

Lafayette spent many days in Philadelphia in October of 1824. On the morning of October 3^rd, he attended church with John Quincy Adams, Robert Morris’ widow, and Charles Jared Ingersoll (a lawyer). After a service preached by Bishop White at Christ Church, Lafayette went to the home of Judge Richard Peters, known as Belmont. He visited and dined with the Judge.

Judge Peters had served as secretary to the Continental Board of War during the Revolution and was a delegate to the Continental Congress. At the time of Lafayette’s visit he was serving as a judge for the federal court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Judge Peters is also known for having been one of the first non-Quakers to have joined the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, and he served as president of the American Convention of Antislavery Societies for several years. Both Peters and Lafayette were Revolutionary War veterans and staunch abolitionists.

As of 2025, Belmont Mansion is a historic site and houses an Underground Railroad Museum.