MORRISTOWN, NJ - General Marquis de Lafayette’s 1825 Farewell Tour is coming to Morristown. The series of events, reenactments and tributes will continue through July 14.
Event highlights include:
Additional programming includes a reenactment banquet at the historic Sansay House on July 13, a Lafayette-themed exhibit at Morristown National Historical Park, and a pop-up museum at the Women’s Club of Morristown, open July 12–13.
Morristown is one of the New Jersey stops on the year-long national tour organized by the , which follows the exact route and timeline of Lafayette’s celebrated 1824–1825 journey across 24 states as the “Guest of the Nation.”
Lafayette, a French nobleman and military officer, volunteered to fight in the American Revolution at just 19, becoming the youngest general in the Continental Army and serving without pay. A trusted aide to General George Washington, he distinguished himself in key battles -- including at Brandywine, Monmouth and Barren Hill -- and played a critical diplomatic role in securing French support that led to the American victory at Yorktown.
His return to Morristown in 1780 to deliver news of France’s military alliance with the colonies marked a turning point in the war. That moment is immortalized by the Alliance statue on the Morristown Green.
“Morris County is where America’s fight for independence was sustained through grit, sacrifice and unshakable resolve, and Lafayette’s contributions to American independence cannot be overstated,” said Morris County Commissioner Christine Myers, member of the Morris County 250th Anniversary Steering Committee.
“As the military capital of the Revolutionary War, our county quite literally helped carry the cause of liberty through its darkest hours. There is no better place to reflect on the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding than right here -- where General Washington and his troops endured two of the harshest winters, where colonial communities rallied behind the dream of freedom, and where the story of American independence truly began,” she added.
The week long celebration is sponsored by the , and organized in partnership with the Morris County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, the Morris County Historical Society, the Morris County Heritage Commission, Morris County Park Commission and many other local organizations. Programming includes concerts, lectures, living history displays, a community parade, and activities for all ages.
“Historians agree Lafayette’s visit to Morristown in 1780 helped turn the tide of the war, and his 1825 return was met with celebration,” said Sarah Neibart, Executive Director of Morris County's 250th Celebrations. “It could not be more fitting that 200 years later after his celebratory trip that we are kicking off our 250th celebrations of our nation’s independence by ‘welcoming him back’ to Morristown.”