Following Lafayette’s Path in Mobile and Alabama

In 1824, President James Monroe invited the last surviving Major General from the Revolutionary War, the Marquis de Lafayette, to return the United States to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Revolution’s start. Among the 24 states Lafayette visited in over 12 months was Alabama. He spent nine days traveling from the Chattahoochee River, through the Creek Nation along the Federal Road—arguably the first Interstate highway—to Montgomery, then down the Alabama River via steamboat, to formerly French Mobile, and the Gulf Coast Fort at Mobile Point. 

Join us for a bicentennial celebration of Lafayette’s visit featuring a fascinating discussion with Dr. Lawrence Krumenaker as he traces Lafayette’s journey through Alabama, and Mobile in particular, revealing how he found the missing locations and celebrating not only Lafayette as the Revolutionary War "rock star" but also those families that fought with him and then emigrated out of the Colonies to live here.  Dr. Lawrence Krumenaker started professional life as an astronomer after growing up steeped in New Jersey’s Revolutionary War historical sites. The scientific and historical influences eventually merged into a career that included scientific research and historical journalism.  His articles and books in historical tourism are based on the idea that history is best understood both by telling the *story* part of history, which is best told by standing where it happened and seeing what’s left of the past, and traveling along with the event. Among his books are “From River to River” (2024) on General Lafayette in Georgia, “Nine Days Traveling” (Lafayette in Alabama, 2020), “The Colonia Tour Book” (Roman sites in Cologne, Germany, 2017), and “Walking the Line” (The Atlanta Civil War defenses that kept Sherman out, 2014).   A Star Trek astronomy book, “Federation Space,” is due out later this year. Books will be available for sale after the presentation.