Lafayette Returns!

Historic Rock Ford welcomes the Marquis de Lafayette with fanfare and celebration Monday, July 28, 2025. This celebration at Historic Rock Ford includes various free, fun, and educational activities throughout the day, including The NJ Fifes and Drums. In this final episode, we speak with Stephen Hudak of NJ Fifes and Drums to learn more about what they do. And we talk with Susan Anderson & Pamela Stoner who are part of the team constructing a Triumphal Arch to great Lafayette based on the original arch that greeted Lafayette on West King Street, Lancaster in 1825. For more information on the festivities happening in Lancaster & Western Chester counties, visit Lafayette200pa.org.

Historic Rockford curator Sarah Alberico takes us on a tour of the 1825: Lafayette in Lancaster 2025 Focus Exhibit in the Snyder Gallery. The exhibit re-traces the Marquis de Lafayette’s journey through Lancaster County in 1825, highlighting historic material culture which reflects some of the stops that he made during his visit. The exhibit runs now through October 2025. https://www.historicrockford.org/exhibits

Benton Webber is a civil engineer and localhistorian and serves on the planning committee for the Bicentennial celebration of Lafayette's visit to Lancaster and Western Chester Counties. Visit Benton's YouTube page to see videos of the many stops Lafayette made in Lancaster in 1825. Connect thru history with Benton at his Facebook page.

Elizabeth Reese has spent over a decade as an interpreter at historic sites on the East Coast and her work has also appearedin TIME, the New York Times, and on C-SPAN. Elizabeth was awarded the Scott Hartwig Public History Fellowship at the Civil War Institute in 2015 and the America 250! Commendation Medal in 2024.

Her first book, Marquis de Lafayette Returns: A Tourof America’s National Capital Region, was published in 2024.

Elizabeth is giving a lecture on her new book at Historic Rockford Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 2pm.  Tickets and more information at historicrockford.org/special-events. 

Elizabeth is currently the Senior Manager of Public Programs & Interpretation at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House and is completing her Master of Arts in American History from Gettysburg College.

In this episode we catch up with Chuck Schwam-Executive Director of the American Friends of Lafayette and Chair of the National Lafayette200 Bicentennial. More information at lafayette200.org and friendsoflafayette.org. For information on local events go to lafayette200pa.org

English County Dance caller, dancer, choreographer Jenna Simpson shares her passion for English County Dance as well as her books of choreography and what we can expect at the Bicentennial Candlelight Dinner and Period Ball in Lancaster Sunday, July 27, 2025.

We also catch up with Glenda Jardel & Pam Stoner of Historic Rockford. They share more about the Lancaster ball as well as Lafayette Day at Historic Rockford and how to get involved in the English Country Dance program at Historic Rockford.

Paul Bouvet shares his journey moving to the states from France at the age of 13 and navigating the US Naturalization process. Paul also shares his love of history and thoughts on Lafayette.

Historic Rockford Curator Sarah Alberico shares what we know about Lafayette's December 2024 travels and Yuletide at Historic Rockford December 27-29, 2024. Details at historicrockford.org/special-events.

In this episode we go to French class with Associate Professor of French/Chair of the Language Studies Council at Franklin & Marshall College Carrie Landfried to learn the basics as we prepare to greet the Marquis de Lafayette at Historic Rockford July 28, 2025.

This month the focus is on music in welcoming the “Nation’s Guest”.  Our special guest is Christina McSherry.  Christina is Executive Director @Historic Rock Ford and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anthropology at