WILLIAMSBURG — Two hundred years ago, the Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of the American Revolution, visited Williamsburg as part of a 13-month tour of the United States, and on Oct. 20, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and William & Mary are inviting the community to commemorate the return of America’s favorite fighting Frenchman with a series of celebratory events.
“This 200th-anniversary celebration of the Marquis de Lafayette’s return to Williamsburg is only the beginning of the many anniversary events that Colonial Williamsburg is planning in the lead-up to the commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026,” said Cliff Fleet, president and CEO of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. “Just like Lafayette’s original tour in 1824, this event invites us to reflect upon the principles that united the nation in 1776 as we seek to form a more perfect union.”
Events on Oct. 20 will begin with an 11 a.m. “homecoming” ceremony at the Wren Building to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Marquis receiving an honorary degree of laws from William & Mary.
The original document, on loan from the Chambrun Foundation in France, is currently on display in Swem Library’s Special Collections Research Center until Nov. 15, along with other rare items related to Lafayette.
“William & Mary students, faculty and staff grew the big ideas that are still blossoming in the United States and across our global partnerships,” said Katherine Rowe, president of William & Mary. “We are pleased to remember the Marquis de Lafayette’s ties to William & Mary and display his honorary degree for the first time back in this country.”
The day will continue with a 1 p.m. gathering in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area featuring a carriage procession, music, pomp and military salutes.
Finally, the Marquis will perform in a dramatic presentation at the Kimball Theater at 3 p.m. in which he’ll reflect on the people and events he experienced during his life. A Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket is required to attend this event.
Williamsburg is one of 200 cities across America participating in the Lafayette200 Tour, organized by The American Friends of Lafayette in partnership with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and cultural institutions across the nation. The tour is intended to educate the public about the life and legacy of Lafayette, who was a fierce advocate for freedom, equality and democracy, according to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Colonial Williamsburg Nation Builder Mark Schneider has portrayed Lafayette in many of the Lafayette200 tour locations including the launch in New York in August, where he was featured on the front page of The New York Times, the foundation noted.
Schneider will portray Lafayette for the Williamsburg events, as well as in Yorktown on Oct. 18 and 19. On Oct. 19, he will be joined by Colonial Williamsburg Nation Builder Stephen Seals who portrays James Armistead Lafayette.
James Armistead Lafayette was born an enslaved Virginian in New Kent County who worked for the Marquis de Lafayette as a double agent during the Revolution, supplying valuable intelligence that helped pave the way for the siege of Yorktown, the foundation explains. He was granted his freedom in 1787 and added Lafayette to his name to honor the French general for whom he spied.
When the Marquis returned to Yorktown in 1824, he greeted Armistead Lafayette with an embrace that was reported in the newspaper, it added.
For more information on this event, along with Mark Schneider’s additional Yorktown appearances, visit visityorktown.org/Calendar.