Speaker: Dr. Will Mackintosh, University of Mary Washington
When Lafayette undertook his tour of the United States in 1824, he wasn’t the only member of the founding generation who was being publicly celebrated for his role in the American Revolution. As participants in the American Revolution entered old age and began to pass away in the 1820s and 1830s, Americans more broadly used the opportunity to reflect on the history and meanings of the Revolution. This lecture considers Lafayette’s Tour in the broader context of Revolutionary memorialization in the 1820s and 1830s.
Dr. Will Mackintosh is an early American historian and an associate professor in the Department of History and American Studies at The University of Mary Washington. He is also a member of Fredericksburg City Council.
Sponsor: Fredericksburg Lafayette Bicentennial Commemoration Committee
About Fredericksburg Lafayette Bicentennial Commemoration 2024:
Over the last two years, representatives of historic and civic organizations, city personnel, and historic-minded individuals researched documents, mapped out Lafayette’s original route, identified the venues that he visited, and formed a plan to honor this hero at the 200th anniversary of his 1824 Fredericksburg visit.
In the years following his Farewell Tour, public awareness of Lafayette’s important contribution has gradually faded. But in 1824, across the country, Lafayette held rock star status.
The goals of the Commemoration are to rekindle interest in Lafayette’s incredible life, to underscore Fredericksburg’s continuing relationship with “The Hero of Two Worlds,” and to foster gratitude for his contributions.
The Commemoration Committee has worked to create “an event like none other.” The Committee worked closely with the American Friends of Lafayette (AFL) to tie our programming to its own. For more information on other Lafayette Bicentennial events, visit Lafayette200.org here.
See more information about the Fredericksburg Lafayette Bicentennial Commemoration 2024 here.
