Unveiling of the new Lafayette Trail marker in Smithland, Kentucky

This marker stands as a testament to the historic ties that bind France and the United States, the values we share, and the enduring friendship between our peoples. Yannick Tagand, Consul General of France

As part of the Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour of the United States in 1824-1825, a new historical marker was unveiled on October 6, 2024, in Smithland Kentucky, to celebrate the General’s visit to the area on May 6, 1825. Smithland’s was Lafayette’s first stop in Kentucky.

The ceremony was organized by The Lafayette Trail, Inc., in collaboration with Livingston County and the Kentucky Daughters of the American Revolution. Over 70 people attended the event.

On May, 5, 1825, Lafayette was received by Andrew Jackson at the Hermitage, home of the 7th President, near Nashville. The next day, he sailed up the Cumberland River aboard the steamboat Mechanic via Clarksville (TN) to Smithland (KY), where he spent the night while the steamer received additional ballast.

During his Farewell Tour, Lafayette made 18 stops in the Midwest (IL, IN, KY, MO, OH), half of them in Kentucky.

The Lafayette Trail’s mission is to document, map, and mark the different stops the Marquis de Lafayette made on his Farewell Tour, and educated the public about the tour’s significance and Lafayette’s contributions to American Independence.

For complete information and photos, go to the Facebook page of The Lafayette Trail, Inc.