A ceremony celebrating the Marquis de Lafayette’s contributions to the Revolutionary War and his 1825 visit to Loudoun County will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Loudoun County Courthouse Complex, located at 18 E. Market Street in Leesburg.
The event will feature members of the Board of Supervisors, the Leesburg Town Council, representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Consulate General of France in Washington, and The Lafayette Trail, Inc. Together, they will unveil a historic trail marker on the north side of the historic Charles Hamilton Houston Courthouse. This marker commemorates Lafayette’s stop in Leesburg during his farewell tour of the United States.
This marker in Loudoun County is part of a nationwide effort to educate the public about Lafayette’s significant tour and contributions to American history. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors authorized the marker’s installation in 2023, following a request from the Ketoctin Chapter of the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution in partnership with The Lafayette Trail Inc. The William G. Pomeroy Foundation funded the marker, which will be placed near the “Spirit of Loudoun” Revolutionary War monument. Loudoun County covered the installation costs.
In addition to the marker ceremony, the Charles Hamilton Houston Courthouse will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., showcasing exhibits such as the 1825 Court Minute Book with an entry about Lafayette’s visit, Revolutionary War records mentioning Lafayette, and other items related to the American Revolution.
Lafayette, who came to the United States from France in 1777, supported the U.S. Continental Army and served under George Washington, eventually earning the rank of general. He also lobbied the French government for troops to aid the U.S. Continental Army.
In 1824, Lafayette toured all 24 states over 13 months. During his visit to Loudoun in August 1825, he met with former President James Monroe at his Oak Hill home, was honored with a procession through downtown Leesburg that included Monroe and former President John Quincy Adams, and attended a grand banquet on the courthouse lawn. Lafayette also visited Temple Hall and Belmont.
