HBF is delighted to announce the upcoming Bicentennial Celebration of the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Beaufort during his Farewell Tour of the Nation in March 1825. HBF and City of Beaufort are collaborating with more than 2 dozen local, state and nationalorganizations including the American Friends of Lafayette, The Lafayette Trail, Beaufort Convention & Visitor Bureau, The Beaufort History Museum and the Paul Hamilton Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution

 to make March 2025 a very special month.  Festivities will begin in the first week in March and culminate on March 18^th.

Specific Dates include:

• Dinner & A Lecture with William Davies – Lafayette In South Carolina: A discussion of the two visits Lafayette made to South Carolina in 1777 and in 1825. Sponsored by the South Carolina Historical Society. 

• • Purchase Tickets $30 Member and $40 Non-Member
  • Seating Limited. $
  • Thursday, March 6
  • 5:30pm
  • John Mark Verdier House
  • Sponsored by HBF

 

• First Friday – Lafayette Bicentennial Kick-off – Children’s Period Costume Parade

• • No charge
  • 18th & 19th Costumes encouraged for Kids and adults
  • Friday, March 7^th
  • 6PM
  • Bay Street
  • Sponsored by City of Beaufort

 

• Lafayette Bicentennial Exhibits

• • March 2025
  • Museum Hours – 10AM to 4PM, Monday -Saturday
  • John Mark Verdier House & Museum, 801 Bay Street

 

• “Waiting of Lafayette” – 19^th Century programs and activities – Learn about the relationship between President James Monroe and General Lafayette. More details on activities to come.

• • Wednesday, March 12
  • 9AM – 5PM
  • Beaufort Country Library, 311 Scott Street
  • Sponsored by the Beaufort County Library
   

• How Liberty Found a Country: Conversations with an historian & the Marquis

  Speakers: Renowned Lafayette impersonator – Mark Schneider and Dr. John McCardell

  • Purchase Tickets 
  • March 17, 2025
  • 7:00 PM
  • St. Helena Anglican Church, Parish House
  • Sponsored by HBF and the American Friends of Lafayette

 

• “Lafayette Returns” – Beaufort is honored to welcome renowned Colonial Williamsburg Lafayette historical interpreter Mark Schneider to Beaufort on March 18, to lead the re-enactment of Lafayette’s visit in Beaufort complete with his arrival by ship, a 13-gun salute, reenactors, a procession, exhibits and demonstrations, culminating with a Colonial Ball in the evening. Late 17th and Early 19th Century Costumes are welcome.

• • Tuesday, March 18
  • 10AM – 2PM
  • Henry C. Chamber’s Waterfront Park, Bay Street and Scott Street

 

• Dancing with Lafayette – Late 18^th and Early 19^th Century Costumes encouraged