Schenectady Welcomes Lafayette!

Name: Schenectady Welcomes Lafayette!
Start: 2025-06-11T10:00:00-04:00
Location: 32 Washington Ave, Schenectady, NY, United States, New York 12305

Schedule

Wed, 11 Jun, 2025 at 10:00 am

UTC-04:00

Location

32 Washington Ave, Schenectady, NY, United States, New York 12305 | Schenectady, NY

Join us for a full day of festivities in the Stockade that commemorates General Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Schenectady. This is one of hundreds of nation-wide events planned by the American Friends of Lafayette that trace our French ally’s footsteps on the exact dates and in the exact order he took them 200 years ago. From August 1824 – September 1825, Lafayette was “The Guest of the Nation,” invited by President James Monroe to visit the United States. It was intended to be a quiet visit, but turned into a thirteen-month celebratory tour throughout all 24 states.
Activities will include a morning horse-drawn carriage procession in Riverside Park, an afternoon authors’ panel at Schenectady Civic Playhouse, musical performances, the unveiling of a historic marker, and a dinner that recreates Lafayette’s famous Schenectady dinner, including the 20-plus toasts he received. One of five nationally recognized official Lafayette reenactors will be on hand.
Activities are FREE and open to the public, unless otherwise stated. Exact times and locations TBD, so please stay tuned to the official website at https://www.kierstenmarcil.com/lafayette-200.
-10am: Grand Arrival of Lafayette
-11am: Walking Tour of the Historic Stockade
-12pm: Lunch with Presentation
-2pm: Unveiling of Historic Marker
-3pm: Author Panel at Schenectady Civic Playhouse
-4pm: Meet the Authors
-6pm: Celebration at the Glen Sanders Mansion
This event is possible thanks to the efforts of the Schenectady Lafayette 200 Anniversary Committee, co-chaired by City Historian Chris Leonard and author and SCHS board member Kiersten Marcil.