Lafayette in Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina
Marker Inscription
Lafayette. On American tour, 1825, he visited Fayetteville (named for him, 1783) and stayed at home of Duncan McRae, on site of present courthouse.
Erected by North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
The Story
In 1825, during his triumphant farewell tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Fayetteville, the city that had honored him by taking his name in 1783. He stayed at the home of Duncan McRae, which stood where the present courthouse now stands. The visit joined a Revolutionary hero to the first American town named in his honor.
Why it matters
Lafayette's 1825 tour let a young nation reconnect with the last great figure of its founding, and Fayetteville's welcome celebrated a bond forged in the Revolution itself.
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Related people
- ยท Marquis de Lafayette
- ยท Duncan McRae
Related events
- ยท Lafayette's farewell tour, 1825
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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