Lafayette’s Triumphal Tour:
Celebrating the Legacy of French-American
Friendship in Norwalk
Sunday, September 15th at 2:00pm
Speaker: Dr. Iris de Rode, PhD
This event is a virtual lecture. Free tickets are available here.
Dr. Iris de Rode, PhD This virtual lecture will transport us back to August 20, 1824 in Norwalk, Connecticut when crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the famous Marquis de Lafayette, who visited Norwalk during his triumphal tour. His Farewell Tour to America celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Independence of the United States and Lafayette’s central role in the American Revolution.
About Dr. Iris De Rode, PhD
Today, as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of this visit and anticipate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Dr. Iris de Rode will present her research on Lafayette and the other Frenchmen who helped secure American independence. Dr. de Rode will share insights from her discovery of the papers of Lafayette’s uncle, the Marquis de Chastellux. As Major General of the French forces during the American Revolutionary War, he worked closely with Lafayette. She will explore their cooperation and how both men spread American ideals upon their return to France. Focusing on this dynamic duo will illuminate Lafayette’s role, the enduring legacy of the Revolution, and place Lafayette’s visit to Norwalk in a broader historical context.