Lafayette Marker Dedication

The Lafayette Trail is an idea of founder Julien Icher.  The markers trace the journey of the Marquis de Lafayette during his tour of the United States to celebrate its 50th anniversary.  It was a time of great political discord not unlike today and President Monroe asked Lafayette, the last surviving General of the American Revolution to do the Tour, as part of an attempt to calm political rhetoric.

Lafayette was particularly thrilled to visit Cincinnati on May 19, 1825.  He was amazed at not only the beauty of this new city, but, and more importantly, overjoyed that Cincinnati was a free city, confirming his life-long fight against slavery.

General Lafayette became a close friend of George Washington and of the founding fathers.  He also used his fortune and raised money in his homeland to fund the American Revolution and led colonists in battle.

The Marker on the Riverfront is the 111th marker of the trail, one of 120 total markers, and the first one in Ohio.

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The dedication will take place at 12 pm. After that, participants will take the street car to Taste of Belgium, at the corner of Vine and 12 St. During lunch Julien Ischer, the founder of the Lafayette Trail will give a lecture on the Marquis' historical journey. The event will end around 2:30 pm.

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Registration:

To register, send us an email and indicate the number of people in your party.

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Program:

Jason Baron – Director of Parks, Welcoming remarks and MC

Eric Vespierre – Board member, Alliance Française - The French Community in Cincinnati

Vice Mayor Kearney – Vice Mayor of Cincinnati - Learning from History

Julien Icher – Founder and President of Lafayette Trail - The Lafayette Trail and the Cincinnati Marker

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Photo: © Bill Rinehart /WVXU