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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 had convinced French King Louis XVI to send troops and ships, which proved crucial to the American victory at Yorktown. 

General Lafayette visited Worthington on his way from Albany to Boston on June 13, 1825, and spent the night as a guest at the Pierce Tavern, which was once located on this site (now the Worthington Library). Following his stop, Lafayette departed for Boston, where he was to lay the cornersone for the Bunker Hill Monument. He was greeted by forty mounted riders, including Colonel William A. Rice, a decorated veteran who served in the War of 1812.

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