Lafayette Tour Marker, Little Falls, New York (NY-82)

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. 

For Little Falls, a small canal town, the visit was a moment of national connection and civic pride. This stop was one of many along the Erie Canal, where Lafayette was greeted by enthusiastic crowds, underscoring the canal’s importance as a new artery of American life. The aqueduct over the Mohawk River was lit up in his honor, a rare spectacle at the time. According to the Albany Argus (June 14, 1825), the canal banks were “alive with citizens” from Little Falls all the way to Schenectady, with crowds greeting him at every lock along the canal.

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