Frankfort Heritage Lecture Series: The Lafayette Bicentennial

Gilbert du Motier, better known worldwide as the Marquis de Lafayette, was a military hero of the American Revolution and a visionary architect of democracy, freedom, and human rights. A major general of the Continental Army at just 19 years old and a close friend of George Washington, Lafayette secured France’s alliance and transformed the tide of the American Revolution, proving that freedom could – and should – be won. Today, Lafayette’s legacy rests in the values of the United States and France, in the ideals and bonds of democratic nations, in the global commitment to protect fundamental freedoms, and in the framework of transformational documents such as The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In 1824, Lafayette returned to the United States as “The Nation’s Guest” and embarked on a Farewell Tour of the Union. On May 14, 1825, he arrived in Frankfort to thunderous applause and fanfare. As he entered Frankfort from the road that now bears his name, the citizens of Frankfort and Kentucky government gave him a hero’s welcome and hosted a parade, a dinner, and a ball in his honor. To commemorate the bicentennial of his visit, two lectures will explore Lafayette’s legacy, the Farewell Tour, his connection to the family of Kentucky’s first U.S. senator, and his 1825 visit to Frankfort.

Presentation #1 - The Lafayette Trail in Kentucky: A Bluegrass Story of American Republicanism Narrated by a French Marquis

In 1824, French-born Revolutionary War hero General Lafayette returned to the United States for the fourth and final time at the invitation of Congress. As the last surviving major general of the Continental Army, Lafayette invoked a powerful revolutionary war imagery at a time of great political division. His French aristocratic credentials made his confirmation of the U.S. political experiment particularly meaningful to Americans. During his “Farewell Tour”, Lafayette visited Kentucky. Find out how Lafayette used his physical journey across the Bluegrass State in May 1825 to narrate a story of superior U.S. republicanism. As the nation celebrates the bicentennial of Lafayette's Farewell Tour (2024-2025) and approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (2026), now is the time to look back at Lafayette's legacy of national unity and come together around a celebration of the United States as a revolutionary form of self-government.

Julien Ischer is a French historian and geographer. He is the founder and president of The Lafayette Trail, Inc., a nonprofit organization promoting a greater understanding of Lafayette's legacy both in the U.S. and France. Julien also serves as host and director of Follow The Frenchmen, a YouTube-based documentary series produced by The Lafayette Trail, Inc. exploring the legacy of General Lafayette. It seeks to democratize access to educational materials about the inspirational life story of General Lafayette and promote a greater understanding of the Frenchman's lifelong evangelism of unalienable natural rights, constitutional liberties, and American-style republicanism.

Julien holds a bachelors degree with a double major in history and geography from the University of Toulouse in France as well as two masters degrees from Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, one in human geography, and the other one in digital geographies with a focus on the integration of spatial data into web environments.

Presentation #2 - Ties That Bind: The Unexpected Connection between Lafayette & Liberty Hall

While many know the Marquis de Lafayette visited Liberty Hall in 1825, most assumed it was due to the network of Kentucky’s Founding Father John Brown. However, new research has uncovered an unexpected connection between the Brown family and the Marquis, one that links him to the family of Margaretta Brown during the Revolutionary War. Join John Walker as he shares research, stories, and family ties that culminated in a historic visit to Frankfort’s most distinguished home.

John Walker is Curator of Collections at Liberty Hall Historic Site. After growing up in Kentucky, he spent many years traveling the United States and living abroad. He has worked as a journalist, sailor, website designer and office administrator. While at the University of Wisconsin – Madison he studied material history preservation and Native American archives. Walker returned to Kentucky in 2024 to work at Liberty Hall. When not working, he enjoys taking long country drives, doing family genealogy, and going to classical concerts.