Name: The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Farewell Tour and the Carriage that Carried a Nation’s Memory
Start: 2026-06-11T17:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-06-11T20:00:00-04:00
Location: 201 Chapin St, South Bend, IN, United States, Indiana 46601

$The Last Adieu: Lafayette\u2019s Farewell Tour and the Carriage that Carried a Nation\u2019s Memory$

The Studebaker National Museum is thrilled to welcome author and historian Ryan L. Cole for an engaging evening celebrating his new book, The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic. Join us on Thursday, June 11 as Cole will take the stage to bring to life the remarkable 1824–1825 grand tour in which the Marquis de Lafayette — the last living major general of the Continental Army — journeyed through all twenty-four states of the young republic, inspiring hundreds of celebrations, parades and events in his honor. Arriving on American shores, Lafayette himself wrote that “memories of the Revolution have come back to life” — a sentiment that feels just as resonant today as America prepares to mark its 250th anniversary. Lafayette’s tour, and the outpouring of gratitude it inspired, offers a powerful lens through which we can shape our own celebration of America 250.
The evening will then move to one of the Museum’s most extraordinary artifacts, as Curator Kyle Sater shares the fascinating story behind one of the carriages Lafayette used during his celebrated tour of the United States, a permanent part of the Museum’s collection. Following both talks, guests are invited to enjoy a Q&A session, light refreshments, and the chance to explore the rest of the Museum at their leisure.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the program running from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tickets are free, but reservations are highly encouraged. Register on our website.
About Ryan Cole
Ryan L. Cole is the author of Light-Horse Harry Lee: Rise and Fall of a Revolutionary Hero and The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic. Mr. Cole has delivered lectures around the country including George Washington's Mount Vernon, the Indiana Historical Society, and the Library of Congress. His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, American Heritage, Civil War Journal, Indy Star, among other publications. He lives in Indiana.
Program Sponsors
This program has been made possible through a grant from Indiana Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.