Lafayette Tour Marker, Old Saybrook, Connecticut (CT-55)

President James Monroe invited the Marquis de Lafayette to visit the United States, his adopted country. Lafayette’s tour of all 24 states in 1824 and 1825 drew large crowds and sparked a renewal of patriotism. During the American Revolution, Lafayette’s intense advocacy of the American cause convinced King Louis XVI of France to send troops and ships, which proved crucial to the American victory at Yorktown. 

On August 21, 1824, General Marquis de Lafayette arrived in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, as part of his grand tour of the United States. Lafayette was traveling from New York City toward Boston, making stops in Connecticut coastal towns. While the exact building where he stayed isn't known, given the marker's proximity to Hart House and its prominence in local history, it's possible Lafayette stayed there. The Hart House, built in 1767, was the home of General William Hart, a Revolutionary War officer and prominent Saybrook figure, making it a fitting place for Lafayette’s overnight stop.

Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.